San Francisco police arrested an Albany man Friday on suspicion of carrying out a six-minute rampage in an SUV in which he mowed down four bicyclists before smashing his vehicle into a light pole and running away.

Police have not released the suspect's name because he is being "medically evaluated" for psychological and other problems and has not been booked, Police Chief George Gascón said at a news conference.

The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested at about 1 p.m. after he went to the Albany Police Department and fabricated a story about his car being carjacked in San Francisco, police said.

Investigators had said that the 2008 blue Nissan Rogue crossover sport utility vehicle used in Wednesday's attacks in the Mission District and Potrero Hill was registered to a Berkeley address, but they kept a tight lid on clues until after the arrest.

Police said Friday that after the driver - who, it turns out, owned the Rogue - crashed his car, he left behind his wallet, keys and a cell phone. Investigators went to the Berkeley address, "but he had moved and we could not contact him," said Sgt. Jon Kasper.

Inspectors then "conducted surveillance with the Albany Police Department," and moved in when he surfaced at the department with his carjacking tale, Kasper said.

The suspect was arrested on four counts each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit and run.

Gascón said he hoped to release the name and photo of the suspect over the weekend. "We feel very strongly we have the suspect," he said.

The attacks began at 9:43 p.m. Wednesday on a quiet stretch of Harrison Street, near 23rd Street in the Mission District.

Witnesses said the SUV came speeding south on the street, hit the first bicyclist head on, and then hit the second less than a block away at 24th Street.

The driver roared east about a mile to the corner of 23rd and Pennsylvania streets, where he hit the third cyclist. Then he sped several blocks north to Potrero Hill, where he hit his last victim at the corner of Missouri and 17th streets and slammed to a stop against a light pole.

The driver ran away, witnesses said, leaving shattered pieces of his vehicle and a parked Jeep that he also hit.

The Pennsylvania Street victim, 39-year-old Rory Madden of San Francisco, was treated at the scene for scrapes and bruises, then sent home.

The other three victims - all men, ranging in age from their 20s to their 40s - were more seriously injured but are expected to survive, said San Francisco General Hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan. Their names have not been released.

"They're all looking better today, but they still don't want to talk to anyone," Kagan said.

One man was upgraded Friday to serious condition from critical. Another victim was also in serious condition, and the third was in fair condition.