Police Use a Taser on a Suicidal Arlington Man Doused in Gasoline, and Flames Immediately Engulf the Man and the Room
On Monday afternoon, July 10, 2017, Arlington police officers were called to a home on Carla Avenue regarding an attempted suicide. When they arrived, they discovered a man threatening suicide and already doused in gasoline. Sgt. Vanessa Harrison of the Arlington Police Department says that as communication with the police officers ensued, the man reportedly poured more gasoline on himself and began to act in a frantic manner. Harrison said the man appeared to be holding a lighter in one hand. To subdue the man, a police officer deployed a Taser, and the man and the room they were in immediately become engulfed in flames. According to Harrison, it is not clear whether it was the Taser or whether it was something ignitable in the man’s hand that caused the fire to ignite.
Three people from the home were outside and no one else was inside the home at the time the flames erupted, other than the police and the suicidal man. Police reportedly took the man out of the house through a window immediately. They also began working to put out the flames.
The suicidal man allegedly had a warrant out for his arrest, on alleged charges of family violence. He was transported to a local hospital, and there isn’t a report of his condition so far.
Three police officers were treated for smoke inhalation, and all are expected to fully recover.
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