An undetermined number of inmates and 11 staff members were reported injured after an inmate created a disturbance at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview yesterday afternoon, a prison spokesman said.

The officers were taken to the Centre Community Hospital emergency room, treated and released, according to clinical coordinator Linda Bierly. She said none of the officers suffered serious injury during the incident.

A number of inmates were treated at the Rockview infirmary for minor injuries such as bumps and bruises, according to prison spokesman Jack Allar.

Inmates in the prison dining hall reportedly threw food and water pitchers at prison employees, Allar said. He said 400 inmates were present in the dining hall at the time, but prison officials did not know how many were directly involved in the disturbance.

The incident began in the dining hall at 3:45 p.m. following an argument between an inmate and prison employees concerning misconduct penalties, Allar said. The inmate then reportedly encouraged others to join him in the disturbance, Allar said.

Problems extended to the walkway outside the prison's culinary building before Rockview guards and work supervisors brought the situation under control, Allar said, adding that the disturbance lasted about 15 minutes.

All inmates were then returned to their cells and a lockdown closed off the prison by 5:15 p.m., Allar said. The prison dining hall was open as usual at 6 for dinner, he said.

The disturbance was the third incident at the prison this week. Rockview State Police reported an unrelated incident yesterday morning in which an inmate assaulted two employees in the dining hall.

On Saturday, an inmate struck an officer in the face with a closed fist, police said.