The Wapello County Jail will be temporarily closed for repairs after an inmate attempted to break out of the facility, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities say on August 28th, Morgan West, 21, was housed in the jail due to a probation violation. West allegedly tried to escape the jail by crawling through the ceiling.
The ceiling could not support West’s weight and officials say West fell through the ceiling tiles and onto the floor below. Corrections officers were able to subdue West without further incident.
West faces additional charges of attempted escape and first-degree criminal mischief.
An individual is charged with first-degree criminal mischief when the damage exceeds $10,000. In addition to closing for repairs, other jail inmates will have to be moved to other county facilities, adding to the jail’s operational costs.
Court records did not show the date for West’s preliminary hearing at the time of publication.
