Arson suspect kills self with toilet paper

SAPPORO - A 45-year-old detainee killed himself in a police cell here over the weekend by swallowing a five-meter length of toilet paper, police said Monday.

According to investigators, an officer at the Toyohira Police Station found the detainee lying on the floor of the cell around 2:20 p.m., Sunday.

The detainee was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but died from suffocation early Monday.

The man, whose identity is being withheld, was under arrest for setting his souvenir shop on fire Aug. 12.

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