RIDGECREST WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO BISHOP HOTEL ARSON FIRE BISHOP —...

RIDGECREST WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO BISHOP HOTEL ARSON FIRE

BISHOP — A 46-year-old Ridgecrest woman was arrested following a structure fire at the Eastside Guesthouse and Bivy hotel early Tuesday morning in Bishop, according to the Bishop Police Department.

Police and fire crews were dispatched around 1:52 a.m. on May 19 to the hotel located at 777 N. Main Street for reports of a structure fire with possible entrapment.

Officers arrived and began evacuating nearby residents and guests staying at the property. Authorities later confirmed all occupants safely escaped the buildings without injury.

During the investigation, officials discovered suspicious items at the scene, prompting a multi-agency investigation involving Bishop Police, Bishop Fire Department, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, and Cal Fire Arson and Bomb Investigations. Investigators later identified and arrested Narcona Stephenson, 46, of Ridgecrest.

Stephenson was booked into the Inyo County Jail and is being held on $850,000 bail.

Authorities said Stephenson faces multiple charges, including 22 counts of attempted murder, arson causing great bodily injury, PRCS violation, disorderly conduct, drug-related charges, unlawful possession of tear gas, and providing false identification to a peace officer.