Lightning apparently struck the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday night, causing a malfunction to the main electrical panel Thursday morning, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.     

The Sheriff’s Office is operating on an emergency generator after a switch malfunctioned on the main electrical panel.

“Essential services such as communications and the Adult Detention Center are operating off the emergency generator,” Sheriff Arnold said. “All inmates are secure.”

Maintenance employees worked with S&W Contracting to obtain a generator that is powering the Sheriff’s Office building and to repair the 18-year-old electrical panel. Murfreesboro Electric Department has been consulted.

“We are doing everything we can to restore normal operations as soon as possible,” Sheriff Arnold said