SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A man accused of prematurely torching the Burning Man festival's namesake effigy in August has been arrested on suspicion of trying to set fire to an historic cathedral, police said. San Francisco performance artist Paul Addis, out on bail in the Burning Man charges, was taken into custody on the top steps of the Grace Cathedral around 11:40 p.m. Sunday, police spokesman Sgt. Steve Mannina said Monday. Addis had an ammunition belt of small explosives strapped around his waist, he said.
Police were tipped by a caller who said they overheard Addis talking about a plan to set fire to the local landmark, Mannina said. No fire was set and there was no damage to the Episcopal church, a French Gothic structure that sits atop the city's Nob Hill.
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 jail late Monday in lieu of $488,000 bail. A jail spokeswoman said she did not have any information on whether Addis had a lawyer.
Check out his mug-shot at link. |