A serial arsonist previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter was arrested last week and charged with multiple felonies, including arson and attempted murder, reports SF Weekly.
David Diaz, 28, was arrested at 4pm on Thursday, March 8th at 1080 Folsom St. for allegedly setting a victim on fire on February 19th on the same block.
Police arrested Diaz for attempted murder, arson causing great bodily injury, false imprisonment, and possession or manufacture of combustible material or an incendiary device. The incident allegedly took place in the same area as Diaz's November 2016 arrest for assault.
In that case, he allegedly handcuffed a man and bit a chunk out of his scalp while impersonating a police officer outside a club in SoMa at Folsom and Harriet Streets. His attorneys claimed he was acting in self-defense.
The charges were dropped after Diaz pled guilty to felony false imprisonment in February 2017 and was released the following month on probation.
Hoodline first reported on Diaz after the June 2011 death of Freddy Canul-Arguello in Buena Vista Park. Diaz said Canul-Arguello had asked to be choked while having sex, but was asphyxiated accidentally. Afterwards, Diaz attempted to burn Canul-Arguello's body in a recycling bin.
Diaz was convicted in August 2014 of involuntary manslaughter, arson, mutilation of the remains of a human being, and destroying evidence. He was released the next month after more than three years in custody.
In January 2015, Diaz was arrested again in connection to a fire at Up Hair, a Castro salon located directly above The Mix, a nightclub owned by Diaz's partner, Larry Metzger.
In August 2016, Diaz pled guilty to felony charges of possession of an incendiary device and commercial burglary. In addition to time served, he was sentenced to one year of mandatory supervision, registering as an arsonist for life, wearing an ankle monitor and receiving counseling.
After being released in September 2016, Diaz was ordered to stay away from 4082-4086 18th St., the building where his former apartment, The Mix, and Up Hair are all located.
