In a recent development from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, a city jury has handed down a conviction to 63-year-old Armando Salvador on multiple counts of arson. Salvador was found guilty of eight counts of arson of another’s property and two counts of unlawfully causing a fire.
"This case demonstrates how public safety agencies working together with community partners can keep our neighborhoods safe for residents, workers, and visitors," DA Brooke Jenkins stated, emphasizing the collaborative effort that led to the conviction. The incidents in question took place in February 2024, when Salvador set multiple vehicles ablaze across San Francisco, starting with a Cadillac Escalade on Campton Place and continuing on Geary Street and O’Farrell Street. Salvador's sparks flew again a week later, setting two Tesla Model Ys aflame, along with two other damaged vehicles, per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Assistant District Attorney En-Ta Tu expressed gratitude towards the San Francisco Fire Department for their quick action and acknowledged the Union Square Alliance's and private citizens' crucial role in providing video evidence that assisted in Salvador's identification. "This conviction would not have been possible without the Union Square Alliance collaboration with the San Francisco Police Department and private citizens who provided video to SFPD's arson unit leading to the identification of the suspect," Tu noted in the testimony, per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. The diligent work of the Fire Department’s Investigation Taskforce, prominently led by Investigators Keehn and Gutierrez, also played a pivotal role in building the case against Salvador.
Currently held in custody, Salvador awaits sentencing on October 27. The particulars of his case were managed by a team led by ADA Tu, with paralegals Sara Wong and Audrey Yu, victim advocate Brittany Weeks-Binell, and support from investigator Isidro Bagon and IT specialist Noaeh Pinaire, contributing to the successful prosecution.
