ALLEGHENY TWP — At least eight staff members ended up at the hospital for injuries suffered Wednesday when they tried to quell rioting youths inside a northern Butler County juvenile detention facility, authorities said.

Two of the employees had to be taken out on backboards after being attacked by chair- and punch-throwing detainees at the Western PA Child Care on Route 38 in Allegheny Township, state police said.

Numerous troopers from Butler and Clarion counties, riot gear at the ready, were needed to restore order after the melee involving up to 40 youths broke out about 5:15 p.m. When it was finally over, the facility was placed in lockdown.

Police Cpl. Tim Morando said investigators continue to review surveillance footage that captured the free-for-all on video.

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

Authorities believe they have preliminarily identified the main culprits and primary instigators.

“We expect to file charges within the next week or two,” Morando said. “Five (detainees) will be charged with aggravated assault and inciting a riot.”

The violent altercation began when a group of juveniles in the gym area charged a rival group that was in the cafeteria, state police said.

The two rival groups live in different sections in the facility. Many of the detainees in the clash are from the Philadelphia area.

“A lot of them are gangbangers,” Morando said.

A door accidentally left unlocked apparently allowed the two opposing groups — each numbering between 15 and 20 — to get at one another.

The Western PA Child Care center is a secured facility that houses boys and men between 16 and 21 years old, who have been placed there following court disposition of their juvenile cases.

Staff members jumped in to break up the brawl. But they were overwhelmed, police said.

“In the video,” Morando said, “you can see the kids punching and kicking. One student actually grabbed a chair and began attacking a staff member who was already on the ground.”

While lying on the floor, the staffer tried his best to fend off the attack.

“He had his arms and legs up in the air the whole time,”Morando said.

When police were called to the facility, they were advised of a riot in the cafeteria. Accordingly, authorities said, responding officers took with them riot gear, including helmets, batons and gas masks.

Four police cars from Clarion were first on the scene. Four more cars from the Butler barracks eventually answered the call.

When the juveniles saw that police were there, Morando said, they retreated back to their pods.

The cafeteria looked somewhat like a war zone. Police described chairs and tables being turned over, some broken. Assorted food also was scattered among the debris.

On-staff nurses were treating some of the employees when troopers arrived. Emlenton and Petrolia ambulance services also responded.

Ambulances took three or four injured staffers to Clarion Hospital. Five or six more employees went to the hospital by private vehicles.

The fracas left most of the juveniles unhurt or with minor injuries.

“Injured fists, black eyes,” Morando said. “That was about it.”

The youths also opted to remain silent when police tried to interview them about what happened.

“They weren't talking,” Morando said. “They were very uncooperative.”

The Butler Eagle could not reach anyone at Western Pa Child Care for comment. A man who did not give his name answered a call there early this morning but referred all questions to the director.