firesprinkler.tv Fire sprinkler

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with breaking a fire sprinkler and causing the evacuation of the New Castle County Courthouse on Monday afternoon, police said.

Two Family Court courtrooms could not be used Tuesday and at least $30,000 in damage was done to an elevator used to transport prisoners from holding cells to courtrooms, Cpl. Robyn R. Quillen of Capitol Police said.

The boy was in a room behind Family Courtroom 1B when he broke the sprinkler head at about 3:50 p.m., Quillen said. This caused a mixture of water and chemicals to gush out of the sprinkler, flooding portions of the wing housing the two courtrooms.

The flooding also damaged the elevator, Quillen said.

The courthouse was closed for the remainder of the day because the lack of water pressure posed a safety danger.

The boy has been charged with felony criminal mischief, second-degree reckless endangering and criminal nuisance.