By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – The parent of a preschooler saw a man on Monday, March 20, attempt to set fire to a mezuzah near the entrance of Tifereth Israel Synagogue.The man could not enter the synagogue because of security locks. The parent reported the intruder to the synagogue staff, who called police.
Police conducted an investigation and subsequently arrested Matthew Gerald Palsson, 36, and charged him with attempted arson, under Section 455 of the California Penal Code, which states:
(a) Any person who willfully and maliciously attempts to set fire to or attempts to burn or to aid, counsel or procure the burning of any structure, forest land or property, or who commits any act preliminary thereto, or in furtherance thereof, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, two or three years.
(b) The placing or distributing of any flammable, explosive or combustible material or substance, or any device in or about any structure, forest land or property in an arrangement or preparation with intent to eventually willfully and maliciously set fire to or burn same, or to procure the setting fire to or burning of the same shall, for the purposes of this act constitute an attempt to burn such structure, forest land or property.
In addition Palsson was booked in county jail on two charges of failing to pay for his passage on local public transportation, and on one charge of failing to appear in court.
The defendant was arraigned on Wednesday and bail was set at $50,000. A status conference was scheduled for April 3 and a preliminary hearing is set for April 5, according to the district attorney’s office.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Records indicate that Palsson last year was arrested on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. At that time he was described as an unemployed resident of La Mesa. The disposition of those charges were not immediately available.
Lisa A Berman Hernandez, Tifereth Israel’s administrative vice president, and Lori Kurtz, its administrator, commented in an email to members: “Tifereth Israel Synagogue is taking this crime very seriously. Our Security Committee, with input from local law enforcement and the ADL, continues to address our established protocols and responses to security threats. The safety and wellbeing of our members and friends is of utmost importance.”
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
COMMENT SECTION
Received June 11, 2017:
Hello Mr. Harrison, I would please like a moment of your time. I recently read an article, posted by you, concerning a one Mr. Matthew Palsson who was arrested on suspected attempted arson upon a mezuzah located just outside of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue. I gather from the article that Mr. Palsson was witnessed “attempting to start a fire” near the entrance of the establishment.
Sir, I am a good friend of Mr. Palsson and know of his keen interest in all things of God, so the news of this has surely surprised me and I am hesitant to believe what is being posited in your article and by those charging “attempted arson” upon Matthew. I mean no disrespect in stating so and I will explain why. Upon hearing of this news, I contacted Matthew to inquire of his own intentions for striking a flame near to any property of the Synagogue and he stated clearly to me that he was trying to read the mezuzah and was having a difficult time, so struck his lighter to illuminate it. Also, if arson was suspected in this case, I wonder how that could be, given that the mezuzah was of a metal substance and would have been impossible to set fire to, let alone tarnish, in truth.
Sir, I am reaching out to you because I feel that the charges brought upon Matthew are incredulous, as I have no reason to believe based upon the gathered information of the circumstances and Matthew’s own stated testimony, that he was making an “attempt to set fire” to any part of the Synagogue and has been wrongfully accused.
I am writing to you on behalf of my friend, and his earnest statement to me that he was only seeking to illuminate the passages from the Torah contained upon the mezuzah in order for him to read them. I would hope that you please consider this alternative to the accusations being held upon my friend. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, Mr. Harrison and I bid you farewell.
Sincerely,
Tricia Ann Wilde
Response from the editor: Thank you Ms Wilde for bringing your perspective to our attention. As the matter is in the courts, I imagine your best course of action would be to inform Mr. Pallson’s defense attorney about what you know.