Washington County Jail Inmate Dies By Suicide: Report

STILLWATER, MN — Authorities say a Washington County inmate died Friday after jumping to his death inside the jail. Richard Bild, 45, was arrested last week after he crashed into his Forest Lake home and dumped gasoline on himself during a standoff with the county SWAT team, police said.

Jail Commander Roger Heinen told the Pioneer Press that Bild leapt from the top level of a jail housing unit just after 12:30 p.m. and fell two stories. Bild was transported to Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, where he died at 5:05 p.m.

"He was supposed to be on suicide watch," his wife Jennifer Bild told the Star Tribune.

Bild's attorney told the paper "he made multiple threats to multiple parties that he was going to kill himself" and he "should have been in a lockdown."

On June 26 at 11:50 a.m., authorities were called to a home in the 20300 block of July Avenue North for a man "causing a disturbance."

While officers were on their way, Bild ran his car into the basement of the house — causing significant damage — police said.

When officers arrived at the home, he fled into a detached garage where he created a barricade and dumped gasoline on himself, according to authorities.

Police secured a perimeter and Washington County SWAT negotiators began talking with the man.

Shortly after negotiations started, the garage began burning. Police say "less lethal" means were deployed on Bild before he surrendered.

Bild was charged with arson, property damage and making terroristic threats.

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