ALLEGHENY TWP — Five staff members were injured and two student-inmates were arrested after breaking out of their rooms in separate weekend disturbances at a juvenile detention and treatment center.

State police called a Saturday evening melee between two dozen detainees a “riot” at the Western PA Child Care on Route 38 in Allegheny Township.

The brawling youths and young adults attacked staff members who tried to quell the free-for-all that broke out shortly before 5:30 p.m.

The incident was the second reported riot at the facility in less than three weeks.

Several staffers were also injured in the earlier uprising last month.

Saturday's violent clash started after a large fight broke out in the facility's cafeteria. The brawl, which included about 25 youths, appeared to be between rival detainees from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas, investigators said.

When a staff member stepped in to try and stop the fight, he was pummeled.

“He was beat up pretty badly about the face,” said police Cpl. Tim Morando.

Police believe some if not most of the youths used the fight as a pretext to target staff.

“Clearly,” Morando said, “students were seeking out staff members to assault.”

A contingent of 20 troopers from Clarion, Franklin and Butler were sent. The officers carried riot gear with them.

The youths retreated to their housing pods once troopers arrived, police said.

Four ambulance services and emergency medical technicians from the Emlenton and Eau Claire volunteer fire departments were also called.

Five staff members and two student-inmates were taken to three hospitals after the alleged riot.

The staffers suffered moderate injuries, said Trevor Hile, director of Emlenton Ambulance.

“They had facial cuts and bruises,” he said. “Some had neck injuries. Some had head injuries. Some had rib and hand injuries.”

The detainees had only minor injuries.

The injuries were treated at Clarion Hospital. Grove City Medical Center and Butler Memorial Hospital.

Morando said investigators continue to review surveillance footage that captured the free-for-all.

Following the review and after they're done talking with employees, he said, police plan to charge an undetermined number of detainees.

Charges could range from aggravated assault and inciting a riot, both felonies, to simple assault and harassment, both misdemeanors.

Police were called back to the facility about 5:30 a.m. Sunday after a number of detainees had reportedly gotten out of their locked rooms.

This time, troopers from the Butler, Clarion and Franklin stations entered the secured facility armed with ballistic shields and batons and wearing protective helmets.

Morando said the escapees, who remained in their housing pod, retreated into their own rooms once troopers swarmed the facility.

Police arrested two detainees, who appeared to be the instigators. The suspects are Dorian Holmes, 18, and Devin Ruffin, 18, both of Pittsburgh.

One of the men kicked out his door, breaking the jamb, police said. Another of the detainees used a shim to force open his door.

At least one of the suspects was believed to be trying to get into an office.

Morando said Holmes was found with a “shank,” a homemade weapon.

“He took the spine out of a notebook, flattened it and put a towel around it,” Morando said of the suspect. The towel, the officer noted, served as the handle for the crude weapon.

No one was injured in Sunday's incident that prompted two Emlenton Ambulance crews to be stationed outside while police went inside.

Police took Holmes and Ruffin to the barracks in Butler Township for questioning. Investigators said the pair was later booked into the Butler County Prison. They are charged with inciting a riot and risking a catastrophe. Holmes also faces a weapons charge. Each suspect is being held on $10,000 bail.

Authorities, meanwhile, reported that at least seven other student-inmates, all believed to be juveniles, were removed for unruly behavior following Sunday's altercation. They were taken to another unspecified detention facility.

Telephone calls and e-mails to the facility's parent company, Mid-Atlantic Youth Services, Corp., were not immediately returned Saturday and Sunday.

The Western PA Child Care facility houses males between 16 and 21 years old and counsels those with drug, alcohol and criminal problems. The residents are placed there by juvenile courts across the state.

Police were called there May 18 for a reported riot involving about 40 youths that also started in the cafeteria and involved youths from Philadelphia.

At least eight staff members were injured. Some needed hospital treatment for facial cuts and bruises.

Officials said two rival groups of prisoners used an interior door left unlocked to get at each other, and staff members trying to break up the fighting were overwhelmed.

Police later charged a 19-year-old Philadelphia man and several juveniles with aggravated assault, rioting and simple assault.