Richmond: Flooding in city jail after suicide attempt

RICHMOND -- The city jail was damaged by flooding Wednesday after an inmate attempting suicide broke a fire sprinkler system inside her cell, authorities said.

Police said the 19-year-old tied a blanket to the sprinkler system in an attempt to hang herself, but the weight of her body broke the sprinkler head, causing flooding inside her cell and other jail cells. The cost of repairs has not been determined.

The woman, who was alone in her cell, was taken to the hospital on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, police said. She was listed in stable condition.

The woman was being held in the jail after she was arrested Tuesday at about 9 p.m. on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Police said she and a man assaulted another man with a knife during a disagreement on the 1700 block of Burbeck Avenue.

David DeBolt covers breaking news. Contact him in Richmond at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/daviddebolt.

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Richmond: Flooding in city jail after suicide attempt