Alleged arsonist nabbed by police
By: Will Reisman
July 30, 2009
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| Spate of fires: Since July 23, 13 autos have been set ablaze in San Francisco, each leaving a charred mess to clean up. (Cindy Chew/The Examiner) |
SAN FRANCISCO — A female arson suspect was arrested early Thursday at the Transbay Transit Terminal, but police are unsure if she’s connected to the string of vehicle fires that have plagued San Francisco streets recently.
The woman was arrested about 3 a.m. at Mission and First streets, according to police Sgt. Lyn Tomioka. Police have yet to release any information about her, other than that she’s a San Francisco resident.
According to fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge, the woman was already wanted by police for two separate arson incidents. The first caused $500 in damage to a building in the 100 block of First Street on April 30. The second fire was much more substantial, resulting in $5,000 worth of damage to a building on Otis Street on July 24.
Police are investigating any links between the woman and the spate of arsons that damaged 13 vehicles in The City since July 23, Talmadge said. The woman is also being investigated for any possible involvement in a series of intentional fires that destroyed 27 portable toilets in San Francisco from November to February.
“She is being investigated in connection with all recent unsolved, intentional fires in The City,” Talmadge said.
Due to the ongoing investigation, Talmadge could not reveal how officers arrested the woman or what evidence they have linking her to the two previous arson incidents.
Thursday was the first day since July 22 that no vehicles were intentionally set ablaze. The total cost of damage has yet to be tallied, Talmadge said.
California’s state-mandated vehicle-liability insurance would not cover arson damage, according to AAA spokesman Matt Skryja. It would be covered under a comprehensive package, which typically costs $250 to $550 more a year than basic liability insurance, he said.
wreisman@sfexaminer.com
