By Kale Williams
The San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO — Three men have been arrested in connection with a series of fires in the South of Market neighborhood originally thought to be the work of one serial arsonist, officials said.
Police arrested Anthony Bejarano, 47, of San Francisco on Wednesday in connection with a fire in a parking structure at Rincon Plaza between Mission and Howard streets near the Embarcadero.
Bejarano’s arrest came shortly after police released video and images of a suspect.
Early statements from police indicated Bejarano could be connected to a series of garbage can arsons in the neighborhood, which occurred during the same period, but two other men were arrested this week for those fires, according to Alex Bastian, spokesman for the San Francisco district attorney’s office.
Lindell Smith, 57, of San Francisco was arrested Monday and accused of lighting a trash can on fire near Cyril Magnin and Eddy streets. Janoah Jonesdunn was arrested for a similar fire on Wednesday near Fourth and Market streets.
None of the three men know one another, and none of the suspected arsons appears to be related, Bastian said.
Bejarano is charged with residential burglary and arson of an inhabited dwelling, both felonies, Bastian said.
“Arsons can be so painfully destructive,” he said. “It can change someone’s life permanently in a blink of an eye.”
Bejarano pleaded not guilty to both charges at an arraignment hearing Friday, Bastian said, but remains in custody on $450,000 bail.
The two other suspects are facing lesser arson-related charges.
Chronicle staff writer Evan Sernoffsky contributed to this report. Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
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