(LONDON, KY.) – On Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at approximately 3:24 AM, Kentucky State Police Post 11, London received a report of a fire inside the Rockcastle County Detention Center with multiple injuries to inmates and staff members.
Seven different Fire Departments throughout Rockcastle County responded to the scene and extinguished the flames. KSP Detectives learned through an investigation that 102 inmates and four staff members were inside the facility at the time of the fire. 13 inmates and two staff members where taken to local hospitals and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Mutiple agencies responded to assist in evacuating the entire facility. All of the inmates were taken to the Laurel County Detention Center in London, by bus and patrol cars.
KSP Post 11 Arson Investigator, Detective Brian Lewis is continuing the investigation and suspects the cause of the fire to be arson. No arrest has been made at this time.
He was assisted at the scene by Troopers from Post 11, Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Vernon Police Department, Rockcastle County Detention Center Officers, Laurel County Detention Center Officers, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Brodhead Fire Department, Livingston Fire Department, Climax Fire Department, Brindle Ridge Fire Department, Western Rockcastle Fire Department, Pongo Fire Department and Laurel County Fire Rescue.
**UPDATE**
On Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at approximately 8:55 PM, Detective Lewis charged inmate, Justin Bishop, 23, of Berea, KY with Arson 1st Degree and 19 counts of Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree, after a further investigation into the fire at the Rockcastle County Detention Center. He was lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center. The investigation is continuing.
Photo of the accused courtesy of the Laurel County Detention Center
