WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling SteubenvilleBelmont County Jail Temporarily Closed To Incoming Prisoners

Belmont County Jail Temporarily Closed To Incoming Prisoners

The announcement came over the scanner to all Belmont County law enforcement agencies.

It said "The Belmont County Jail is closed to all incoming prisoners."

It was an unusual situation that lasted two and a half hours.

Officials say when you are booked into the jail, it's a long process.

You have to be photographed, fingerprinted, showered, de-loused and more.

"They have to be patted down, all their belongings are taken from them, like belts, earrings, whatever, and they are placed in a holding cell, in a perfect world." said Sheriff Fred Thompson.

At the jail, there are four holding cells, which is usually more than enough.

But Thursday afternoon, all four holding cells were occupied.

They are not just for incoming prisoners.

"We have to use holding cells for other reasons," the sheriff explained. "We use them for people on suicide watch. We use them for prisoners who are fighting in the cellblock. We use them for people with medical issues."

In this case, all those things happened at once.

Officials say there were two male prisoners on suicide watch, one male prisoner who couldn't get along with anyone in the cellblock, and one female prisoner with a communicable medical condition.

So the jail could not accept prisoners.

It lasted two and a half hours.

The sheriff said it was rare, but it happens.

Now, those holding cells which are the gateway to the jail are open, and they say there's room at the inn for new guests.