BELLINGHAM, WA – (MyBellinghamNow.com) A deputy was sent to the hospital after an inmate used a tablet to start a fire in the Whatcom County Jail on Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Office says an alarm went off around 2:30 p.m. for a fire in a restrictive housing unit on the second floor.
Deputies opened the door to discover the cell was full of smoke and transported the lone inmate to a different area.
The Bellingham Fire Department quickly responded and cleared the fire.
Deputies searched the cell afterwards and found a burned tablet.
The inmate admitted to starting the fire by removing the back of the tablet and using a paperclip to short out the exposed battery.
Probable cause exists to charge the inmate, 20-year-old Benjamin Morgan, with first degree arson and malicious mischief.
One deputy was sent to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
No inmates were injured.
