An inmate at the Fulton County Jail has found himself with additional charges after allegedly setting a cell on fire at the Rice Street Jail. According to the FOX 5 Atlanta, the accused, Juan Edwards, is said to be responsible for the incident which occurred Saturday night, leading to the displacement of 15 fellow detainees.
The sheriff's office swiftly acted to relocate the impacted detainees to another section of the jail and was able to quickly extinguish the fire before it ever could get out of hand. The Atlanta Fire and Rescue team followed up to ensure the blaze was thoroughly quelled. All inmates were reported to have avoided injury during the event.
Edwards now faces multiple new charges on top of his current ones. According to the 11Alive report, the charges include first-degree arson and interference with government property. He has also been charged with contributing to an unsafe environment, damage to jail property, and interfering with security operations.
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat remarking, "I am proud of the women and men of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and ability to maintain order under challenging circumstances. The safety and security of the detainees in our care and custody is a top priority," he told FOX 5 Atlanta.
