By C1 Staff

RAYMONDVILLE — A privately-run Texas prison has law enforcement securing the perimeter of the facility while they handle what appears to have escalated into a riot.

The Valley Morning Star reports that three of the 10 tents at the facility have been set on fire.

The company that runs the prison, Management and Training Corporation, released the information that the problems started this morning when inmates refused to eat breakfast and started to complain about medical services at the facility.

Inmates began to break out of the housing units and make their way into the recreational yard. Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said that at one point he saw between 200 and 300 inmates moving around in the rec yard.

MTC said that at one point 2,000 inmates took part in the disturbance, with another 1,000 inmates housed in a separate facility not involved.

Officials say they used tear gas to bring the situation under control. A DPS helicopter was hovering over the prison all afternoon with an armed trooper visible at the door of the chopper.

Two officers and one inmate suffered minor injuries, and were treated at the prison.

MTC, according to a news release, is attempting to bring a peaceful solution to the incident.