Jail door cuts off part of inmate’s finger

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — An inmate at the New Hanover County Jail had to be rushed to the hospital last week part of her finger was cut off in a door.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Jerry Brewer says jail staff was doing a headcount Thursday when they went into the cell of Kelsey Alexandra Lynch. Brewer says Lynch tried to attack the officers, who backed out of the cell and closed the 700-pound cell door. He says as the door closed Lynch tried to stop it with her hand, which got caught in the door cutting off the tip of one of her fingers.

Brewer says the jail’s on-site medical staff responded and decided instead of waiting on EMS, it would be faster to drive Lynch to the hospital, so two deputies drove her in a patrol car. Brewer says doctors were able to reattach the finger tip, and Lynch is expected to be OK.

Lynch was in jail on a charge of failure to appear in court in Franklin County. She has been released on a $1,000 bond.