SF Man Brandishes Machete, Starts Apartment Fire: Police

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A 47-year-old man was arrested Monday morning for arson and brandishing a machete in the Tenderloin, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

At 6:43 a.m., police responded to a report of a man holding a machete in the street and threatening people, SFPD reported.

The man, identified as Jared Spegal, “refused to comply” with police officers and barricaded himself in his third-floor unit at the Civic Center Residence at 44 McAllister Street, according to the SFPD. While in this unit, he threw items out of his window and started a fire, police said.

A hostage negotiation team and the San Francisco Fire Department were called to the scene, KRON4 reported.

Members of San Francisco Fire Department Truck 1 safely removed Spegal from his apartment and he was arrested, SFFD officials shared on X shortly after 10 a.m. No injuries were reported, they said.

"He was arrested for several things, which include arson, brandishing a machete, and resisting arrest," SFFD Lieutenant Mariano Elias told KTVU Fox 2.

Residents who were evacuated from the building due to the fire have since been allowed to return to their apartments, KTVU Fox 2 stated.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.