San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Armando Salvador (63), after a trial by jury for arson. Mr. Salvador was convicted of eight counts of arson of another’s property (PC 451(d)), and two counts of unlawfully causing a fire (PC 452).
“The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Salvador accountable and ensures that he will face consequences for his crimes,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “This case demonstrates how public safety agencies working together with community partners can keep our neighborhoods safe for residents, workers, and visitors. My office is committed to strengthening ties between law enforcement and the community to prevent crime and fight for justice in the courtroom.”
According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, on the evening of February 18, 2024, at approximately six a.m., Mr. Salvador, beginning at Campton Place, lit a Cadillac Escalade on fire then set fire to five additional vehicles located on Geary Street and O’Farrell Street.
On February 24, 2024, approximately one week later, Mr. Salvador set fire to two Tesla Model Ys at the intersection of Mabini Street and Bonifacio Street and the intersection of Shipley Street and Fourth Street. These fires were so large that two other vehicles parked nearby were also burned. Mr. Salvador was later identified through videos collected by the San Francisco Police Department via the Union Square Alliance and several concerned local citizens.
The case against Mr. Salvador was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney En-Ta Tu with assistance from paralegals Sara Wong and Audrey Yu, victim advocate Brittany Weeks-Binell, District Attorney Investigator Isidro Bagon and IT support from Noaeh Pinaire. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Mr. Salvador based on the outstanding work of Investigators Keehn and Gutierrez with the San Francisco Fire Department Investigations Taskforce.
“I would like to thank the San Francisco Fire Department for their swift response in putting out these fires before they caused additional damage,” said Assistant District Attorney En-Ta Tu. “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.”
Mr. Salvador is currently in custody. Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2025.
Court Number: 24003532
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