CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police said they have arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for setting a closed lakeside resort on fire on Sunday.

Clearlake resident Richard Alarcon Teruel, 34, was taken into custody on Sunday in connection with the fire at Wisedas Resort, located at 14375 Lakeshore Drive, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

Just after 1 p.m. Sunday Sgt. Hobbs was driving by Wisedas Resort while responding to an unrelated call when he reported observing smoke coming from the second story apartments on the rear side of the main building.

While waiting for personnel from Lake County Fire Protection District to respond, Hobbs said he attempted to look inside the apartment that have been used by transients for shelter in the recent past to see if anyone was inside but was not able to see very far in due to the amount of smoke.

He said fire personnel arrived a short time later and began working to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.

While personnel from Lake County Fire Protection District, Northshore Fire, South Lake County Fire and Cal Fire worked to contain the fire, Clearlake Police personnel were on traffic and crowd control, Hobbs said.

Several blocks of Lakeshore Drive and Palmer Avenue were closed due to the location of the fire and the need to run fire hoses to additional fire hydrants that were several blocks away, he said.

Hobbs said there were large crowds gathered to watch the fire at the south and north ends of the area around the fire that was closed off.

At approximately 5:10 p.m. a witness contacted California Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer Doug Willson who was obtaining runoff water samples from the fire several blocks away on Lakeshore Drive, Hobbs said.

The witness provided information to Officer Willson about a subject who had walked by the witness’ location shortly after the fire, allegedly providing the witness with details on how he started the fire. Hobbs said the witness was able to provide a detailed description of the subject.

At approximately 5:40 p.m. Fish and Wildlife Officer Willson was contacted by a citizen who reported seeing a subject that was acting strange near Lakeshore Drive and Howard Avenue, Hobbs said. The citizen pointed the subject out and Officer Willson noticed the person matched the description provided by the witness he had already spoken too.

Hobbs said Officer Willson contacted the subject who was identified as Teruel.

At this time Officer Willson contacted Hobbs who responded to his location. During a pat search of Teruel's person he was found to be in possession of an expandable baton concealed inside his jacket and Hobbs said he arrested him for possession of a deadly weapon.

Det. Travis Lenz responded to take over the investigation into the fire. Hobbs said Lenz contacted and interviewed the witness who had provided a statement about Teruel admitting to starting the fire.

Hobbs said Lenz then drove the witness to Teruel's location and the witness was able to positively identify him as the person who had admitted to starting the fire.

Lenz then interviewed Teruel, who provided several conflicting statements, Hobbs said.

During further interviews at the police department Hobbs said Teruel admitted to starting the fire.

Hobbs said that in addition to possession of a deadly weapon, Teruel was charged with arson and booked into the Lake County Jail.

Jail records show that Teruel's bail was set at $100,000. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Meantime, firefighters remain on scene at Wisedas Resort, where fire officials allowed the decades old building to collapse because it was a hazard.

Radio reports indicated Monday morning that resources were expected to remain on scene another three days to monitor the site.

Anyone with information regarding this fire or any other arson in the city of Clearlake can contact Det. Lenz for 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.