Bishop in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Dangerous Arrest

Inyo Register

— Thursday, March 10, 1887 —

Dangerous Arrest Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 30, 2014

1. Dangerous Arrest Marker

Inscription.
The Shooting
For the first time in many months the peace and calm of the town were disturbed by a succession of pistols shots last Saturday night. The shots were fired by Officer Plumley in arresting one Phillip Staiger for disorderly conduct and it was certainly a justifiable case.

The Circumstances
Staiger went into Springsteads Saloon, and being drunk became abusive. Officer Plumley was appealed to and put Staiger out. Staiger was quiet for awhile, but went away and hunted up a pistol. He afterwards commenced to threaten persons on the street, in fact, did draw his pistol on David Hall. Plumley went to hunt him up and found him in the Headquarters Saloon. He searched Staiger, but found no weapon. Staiger went out into the street and became abusive. Plumley started to arrest him. Staiger presented a gun, and told him to stop. Plumley then drew his pistol and fired a shot by way of a frightener. It didn’t work that way though. Plumley fired three more shots to scare his man, but this man refused to scare. Concluding that it was time to act decidedly, the next shot was fired to hit. The bullet just furrowed along

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his neck, not seriously injuring him. The officer at once closed in on Staiger and handcuffed him. The charge against the prisoner is for resisting an officer. Had his pistol worked satisfactory, Plumley could not have afforded to waste so much time. Staiger’s examination commenced Tuesday before Justice I.P. Yaney and it is not yet concluded. District Attorney Forbes is prosecuting and W.P. George is engaged in the defense.

Erected 2001 by Bishop Mural Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Notable Events.

Location. 37° 21.702′ N, 118° 23.787′ W. Marker is in Bishop, California, in Inyo County. It is at the intersection of Line Street and Warren Street, on the right when traveling west on Line Street. Located on the police station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 207 W Line St, Bishop CA 93514, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the

Officer Richard E. Perkins Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 30, 2014

2. Officer Richard E. Perkins Memorial

1949 - 2001. This mural was created by and dedicated to Officer Richard R. "Rich" Perkins who died in the "line of duty" on August 15, 2001.
Click on photo to read more.

Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Horace Marden Albright (a few steps from this marker); First United Methodist Church of Bishop (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Ernest Kinney Teamster Family Mural (about 700 feet away); The Old Inyo County Jailhouse (about 800 feet away); The Kittie Lee Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whiskey Creek History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Slim Princess (approx. ¼ mile away); Major Kern W. Dunagan (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop.

More about this marker. Original Mural painted by Robert Thomas, John Knowlton, and Rich Perkins.

The historical marker has been removed. A fallen officers memorial plaque was installed in 2026.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 30, 2014

3. "Dangerous Arrest" Marker

"Dangerous Arrest" Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 8, 2009

4. "Dangerous Arrest" Mural

"Dangerous Arrest" Mural and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 30, 2014

5. "Dangerous Arrest" Mural and Marker

New Mural — No Marker in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 30, 2025

6. New Mural — No Marker in 2025

Mural and Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 24, 2026

7. Mural and Memorial Marker

Fallen Officers Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 23, 2026

8. Fallen Officers Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,244 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 26, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6. submitted on November 9, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on October 24, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on October 23, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.