S.C. prison on lockdown after hostage situation with suicidal inmate, officials say

Saturday, November 4th 2006, 4:39 pm

By: News On 6

RIDGELAND, S.C. (AP) A suicidal inmate held a prison employee hostage for 13 hours before surrendering to emergency workers, state officials said Saturday. The medium-security prison remained on lockdown.

Armed with a homemade weapon, inmate Lloyd Isaac, 35, took the female employee hostage shortly after noon Friday, according to a statement from the state Corrections Department.

Isaac, who is serving a 50 year sentence at the Ridgeland Correctional Institution, asked authorities in a note and throughout negotiations to kill him, the state said. The situation ended nonviolently about 1:30 a.m.

Isaac had been convicted of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was assigned as an inmate assistant, working with staff on a daily basis.

An investigation continues, the release said.

A woman answering the phone at the prison Saturday refused to give information, then hung up. There was no answer at a phone number for a Corrections Department spokeswoman.