TEXARKANA, Ark. — Authorities have apprehended three teenage boys following an incident where a group of juveniles allegedly took control of a portion of a hospital in Texarkana.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department received an emergency call on Sunday from the Riverview Behavioral Hospital, reporting that multiple patients were engaging in unruly behavior, leading to a riot in the facility.

According to a statement from police, dispatch informed that some patients had obtained a piece of metal and were using it to shatter interior windows in what appeared to be an attempt to escape.

Upon arrival, officers from the TAPD, along with other agencies, discovered that staff members were trapped inside a nurse’s station, encircled by the disruptive patients.

To manage the situation, the officers devised a strategy to evacuate the staff and ensure the safety of the patients. Equipped with riot gear, law enforcement entered the hospital and successfully managed to separate the involved parties, de-escalating the situation without major injuries to any patients, staff, or officers.

A 17-year-old and two 15-year-olds have been charged with inciting a riot and were taken to a juvenile detention center. Meanwhile, the remaining juveniles involved were returned to the hospital’s custody, police reported.

Capt. Zach White of TAPD mentioned that approximately 25 juvenile patients participated in the chaotic incident, prompting a significant police response.