Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Setting Fire To SF Jewish Student Organization

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A man has been arrested for allegedly setting a fire that damaged the building of a Jewish student organization in San Francisco earlier this month, police announced Wednesday.

Mitchell Hoyt, 36, was arrested on suspicion of the fire reported at about 1:55 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the San Francisco Hillel building on Banbury Drive, located near San Francisco State University.

San Francisco police said investigators determined the fire was set outside the building, which was occupied at the time. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused damage to the structure.

Police identified Hoyt as the subject and learned he had already been taken into custody for an unrelated crime. He was then arrested in the jail Tuesday on suspicion of causing a fire to an inhabited structure and setting property on fire, though police said there is no probable cause to arrest him for a hate crime.

San Francisco Hillel in a letter to their community said the fire started in garbage bins outside the building and caused "significant damage" to the basement and second floor bathroom, as well as smoke damage throughout the building.

Hanukkah-themed festivities had to be canceled and the building is closed until further notice, according to the organization.


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