​Man Arrested For Pouring Chemical On Novato Street Signs: Police

NOVATO, CA — A San Rafael man suspected of pouring a purple liquid that turned out to be a toxic chemical on street signs Monday in Novato has been arrested, police said.

A Novato Public Works employee notified police Monday afternoon on seeing the man pouring the liquid on Fourth Street, providing a description of the suspect and the vehicle he used to leave the area.

Officers spotted and stopped the vehicle near Trader Joe's on Redwood Boulevard, but said the man was uncooperative and it took 30 minutes of negotiation to get the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Shahin Farman of San Rafael, out of the vehicle.

Novato Fire Protection District personnel, meanwhile, responded to assist officers at Fourth Street in cleaning the mystery liquid, later determined to be muriatic acid, described as a caustic and toxic variant of hydrochloric acid that can cause irritation or burns if it is inhaled or comes in contact with skin.

More gallon containers of muriatic acid were found in Farman's vehicle, along with tin foil that police said could potentially be used to make a bomb.

Farman was already a suspect in vandalism reported on Aug. 2 in San Rafael that caused significant damage, police said, and investigators there were notified of his arrest.

Also see: Man Arrested In Novato For Vandalizing Cars At Food Bank: Police

Farman was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of several violations, including felony vandalism, suspicion of discharging a toxic substance, driving on a suspended license, and possession of chemicals that could be used to produce an explosive device.

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