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Four to face charges in Cambridge jail disturbance, flooding

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 9, 2009 04:10 PM

By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

Four inmates at the Middlesex County jail in Cambridge may spend even more time in custody because of their role in a disturbance at the jail that caused at least $400,000 in damage, officials said.

Sheriff James DiPaola said the four face charges of malicious destruction of property for destroying several water sprinkler heads, which led to flooding Sunday in the Cambridge facility that sent waves of water cascading through the building.

Damage, he said, was "about $400,000 and the calculator is still running." The inmates apparently removed a wooden plank bench seat, then used the plank to swat the sprinkler heads on the C side of the jail, he said.. The jail occupies the top floors of the East Cambridge building.

The men may also face assault charges for scuffling with corrections officers, DiPaola said at a news conference today.

DiPaola said 440 inmates were at the jail on Sunday and about 232 remain there today. The others have been dispersed to other facilities.

DiPaola said the jail's capacity was set at 200 in 1989. He said he backs legislation that would, among other things, put more inmates awaiting trial on house arrest with their whereabouts tracked by GPS bracelets.