It was totally voluntary... I rode into town and asked the local cop where a good place to camp was, or if he would recommend a hotel... this was right at dusk so my options were getting slimmer by the minute. He suggested that camping wasn't too safe in the area due to the proximity of the border... and told me that the local hotel was full of bird watchers. He called HQ and then told me he had a solution. He offered the cell. I could put up my gear, clean up, and then go eat, but when I came back I would be locked in till morning, for my protection.

Sounded OK to me. There was indeed a belligerent drunk, later on, in the next cell.

That evening I went out, had a good steak dinner at the hotel ("full of people..." and indeed it was) and then went back and was locked in. Cell was opened before I was awake in the morning. I got up, thanked them and had coffee with the officer on duty... then went on my way down the road.

The Officer that offered the cell told me to tell folks that I had just spent the night in the oldest jail in Arizona. I've been back since... it is now an antique shop... new jail is down the road. Bisbee has since become something of an art community... was rather run down and dusty when I was there the first time. Cool little town, interesting history.

The old jail was in the heart of Bisbee, right down the street from the Copper Queen hotel... I've stayed in the Copper Queen since, too. OK place, if you're into historic old hotels.

Really, all I did was spend the night...

Oh, in case you're wondering... I've been to the Yuma Territorial Prison too... just didn't spend the night there.