Suspect in Burning Man arson arrested
A San Francisco performance artist charged with prematurely torching the Burning Man festival’s namesake effigy in August has been arrested on suspicion of trying to set fire to the historic Grace Cathedral, police said Monday.
Paul Addis was taken into custody on the top steps of the cathedral around 11:40 p.m. Sunday with an ammunition belt of small explosives strapped around his waist, said San Francisco police spokesman Sgt. Steve Mannina.
Police were tipped by a caller who said they overheard Addis talking about a plan to set fire to the church, Mannina said.
No fire was set and there was no damage to the church.
Addis was booked on five felony charges — attempted arson, possession of arson materials, possession of a destructive device, arson of a church, violation of a court order — and a misdemeanor for altering a firearm, according to the sheriff’s department.
He remained in custody Monday pending an arraignment.
Mannina said Addis is the same person who’s facing arson charges in Nevada for allegedly setting fire to the Burning Man effigy in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert days ahead of its scheduled burn.
In his booking photo, Addis was still wearing his red and black face paint from the desert event and sporting a wide smile, making the mug shot an instant Internet hit.
Hours after that arrest, Addis posted $25,632 bond and was released from jail.
He has not entered a plea to the charges — arson, illegal possession of fireworks, destruction of property and resisting a public officer.
An arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 13.
source: rgj
