WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN)— A man has been charged in connection with a fire at a jail in Beaufort County.The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office says on March 14th, detectives obtained a warrant, charging 35-year-old Robert Blount III with one Felony count of Burning of Jails or Prisons.Blount III was given a $200,000 secured bond and remains confined at the Pitt County Detention Center.The investigation is ongoing, and more charges will be forthcoming.See below for the previous story:WASHINGTON, N.C...
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN)— A man has been charged in connection with a fire at a jail in Beaufort County.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office says on March 14th, detectives obtained a warrant, charging 35-year-old Robert Blount III with one Felony count of Burning of Jails or Prisons.
Blount III was given a $200,000 secured bond and remains confined at the Pitt County Detention Center.
The investigation is ongoing, and more charges will be forthcoming.
See below for the previous story:
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN)— Deputies now say they believe an inmate intentionally set a fire last night that has closed the Beaufort County jail.
The fire started around 6:30 p.m. and led to the evacuation of all inmates. The jail is in the basement of the Beaufort County Courthouse.
Sheriff Scott Hammonds says they believe the fire was intentionally set by an inmate using a battery inside a tablet provided to inmates.
The sheriff says the fire was contained to a single cell, while smoke from the fire created a serious situation.
“If it had not been for the employees being on their normal rounds, they would not have picked up as quickly the smell, and the action would not have been taken as quickly,” the sheriff said this morning.
One inmate was taken to the hospital for evaluation, while the others were moved to the Pitt County jail.
Crews were inside the jail today, cleaning up from the fire. The sheriff says the jail will be closed indefinitely.
“This particular jail setting, it’s very outdated, or grandfathered in, so a lot of the technology of fire suppressors is not available in this jail,” said the sheriff. “Everything is manual. Fire extinguisher, evacuation, movement, detain, detain and securement.”
The sheriff said tablets are county-owned and given to inmates for educational, spiritual, or inspirational learning.
Hammonds says moving forward, they will be evaluating approved items allowed in the jail to prevent fires like this from happening again.
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