Woman sets Novato church on fire in hate crime incident: NPD

(KRON) — A Santa Clara woman is accused of intentionally setting a Christian church on fire in Novato over the weekend.

The arson fire ignited at Christ Church North Bay on Redwood Boulevard just before 6:30 a.m. Saturday, police said. “Witnesses reported that a female adult was seen walking away from the fire,” the Novato Police Department wrote. “Multiple small structures, including a nativity scene, Star of David, and cross were burned.”

NPD said firefighters doused the blaze while police officers found the arson suspect: 61-year-old Denise Roberts of Santa Clara.

When officers questioned Roberts, she allegedly admitted that “religious bias motivated her to start the fire,” NPD wrote.

Roberts was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for a hate crime and felony arson of a structure.

The police department wrote, “The Novato Police Department would like to thank community members for immediately calling 911. In Novato, we protect and respect our neighbors. Everyone deserves to be safe. Bias-based destruction and hate have no place in our city.”