Prison Cell Flooded by Drunk Suspect

An intoxicated Palmer Township man who couldn’t find his vehicle and caused a ruckus in part of SouthSide Bethlehem later broke a fire sprinkler head in a holding cell, flooding the cell and costing the city $1,347 in municipal services, according to court records.

The alleged culprit is Bryan M. Ward, 24, of 2641 Farmhouse Court South. And the $1,347 bill was for calling out the fire department and maintenance workers, the records say. Ward’s alleged actions also include the need to repair a thermostat control. The cost – an estimated $250.

Police got involved around 1:30am Saturday when the occupants of a residence on the 400 block of Taylor Street said a man in a hooded sweatshirt with black horizontal stripes was banging on a door. When an occupant confronted the man, the man threw an unknown object at the occupant.

Police found the man – later identified as Ward – nearby on the 400 block of Filmore Street. He climbed a staircase and entered a porch on the 500 block of E. Fourth Street. Ward admitted to police he did not live there or have any legitimate business there.

Ward was visibly drunk and had trouble speaking and standing with assistance, the records say. He told police he couldn’t find his vehicle. His blood-alcohol content was 0.212 percent; the legal limit is 0.08.

The records say that Ward used his hands to break the fire sprinkler head in the .

Ward was arraigned at 4:50am Saturday by on-duty District Judge Jackie Taschner of Palmer Township on charges of institutional vandalism, injury or tampering with fire apparatus, public drunkenness and loitering and prowling at night.

He initially did not post $5,000 bail but posted bail later in the day, the records say.