Shawano County jailers used pepper spray Tuesday to control more than a dozen defiant inmates.

Lieutenant Jason Annis says the unrest started about 12:30 Tuesday afternoon as jailers ordered inmates to lock down. He says a "regular" inmate convinced the others to not comply with the orders from corrections officers.

Eight corrections staff and eight deputies responded and warned the inmates to comply before deploying pepper spray. Annis says they eventually gathered in the shower area of the jail, when officers turned to the use of pepper spray.

Annis says jailers rarely have to use force.

Jailers decontaminated the inmates in the cell block and evacuated the rest of the jail as a precaution. One inmate was treated for exposure.

Annis says security was never compromised during the incident.

AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (MP3 :38)

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