One inmate was treated and released from hospital while at least four others were bundled into a police truck and carted away from the Ocho Rios lock-up Wednesday evening after what a police inspector described as a "major disturbance" at the facility.

"The police were entering the cell to do a search when they were attacked verbally and physically. The police had to subdue the prisoners and one was injured," Senior superintendent of police in charge of policing in St Ann Dwight Powell said.

Inspector Robert Forbes of the Ocho Rios Police Station said that sometime after 4:00 pm inmates began issuing threats to the police which led to the disturbance at the lock-up. By 6:30 pm he declared the "major disturbance" quelled.

"What I can say is that things are now under control," he said. By nightfall a team from INDECOM had arrived at the scene and there were unconfirmed reports that there may be other inmate transfers.

Earlier in day it was a chaotic scene as soldiers and a fire unit were dispatched to the police station, and curious onlookers milled about outside its locked gates. The inmates removed from the Ocho Rios station Wednesday evening have been transferred to Portland, according to sources.

SSP Powell said the disturbance was unrelated to five inmates being charged, Tuesday, with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding in connection with a beating meted out to another inmate there.