Man bursts into flames after Taser shock

[JTFrog]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/australia.taser.fire/index.html

(CNN) -- A man, who doused himself with gasoline and charged at an officer, burst into flames when he was hit with a Taser, police in Australia said Tuesday.

"He was carrying a lighter and pouring himself with petrol," said Inspector Bill Munnee with the West Australian Police. "We don't know if the lighter set it off or something from the Taser."

Authorities have launched an inquiry into what happened Monday when an officer arrived at the 36-year-old man's house in the remote desert community of Warburton.

Police had received a report that the man and some others were sniffing glue, Munnee said.

At the sight of the arriving officers, the man ran out of the house with a container of gasoline and a cigarette lighter, police said.

When he ignored the officer's command to stop, the officer fired his Taser stun gun -- and the man "caught alight," Munnee said.

...

Two years ago, a man in Texas died in a similar incident when he too caught fire after he was shot with a Taser.

In that case as well, the man had poured gasoline on himself and was resisting arrest.

...

*edit for comment

I'm trying to figure out how anyone would think tasering someone doused in gasoline would be a good idea.

I can understand these weren't innocent bystanders, but sheesh, here, let us help you out a bit lighting yourself on fire. :crazy:

[hlthe2b]

1. "We don't know if the lighter set it off or something from the Taser."

Yeah, right....:eyes:


If someone could create a valid common sense test for police officers, I dare say we'd exclude 50% of them...

[dipsydoodle]

2. "We don't know....."

should be listed under stupidest fucking police remarks of 2009.

[hobbit709]

3. That would exclude 50% of everybody

If common sense were really that common, it wouldn't be remarked upon when used.

[hlthe2b]

4. Sadly, so

[backscatter712]

6. Some police departments literally refuse to hire those with too high an IQ.

I remember a story about the NYPD turning away applicants who scored too high on their IQ test - they reasoned that people who were too smart would be bored with the job.

So they hire idiots instead...

[slampoet]

13. In Rhode Island they also actively recruit kids who have violent records of bullying

including torturing animals.

[Joanne98]

5. DUH. The cops don't know the taser is electricity?

[JVS]

7. Those cops are either total morons or murderous fucks

[liberal N proud]

8. Gasoline + spark

:nuke:

[NoPasaran]

9. Am I supposed to be upset? Because I'm not.

Dousing oneself with gasoline and charging at police does nothing to enhance one's survivability.

[JTFrog]

10. As I commented, I don't feel these were innocent bystanders...

But should the cops just go ahead and start pulling the trigger for the man who points a gun at his own head too?

[Vickers]

11. Yeah, it's pretty funny upthread folks talking about common sense

and this doofus was sniffing glue and then playing with gasoline and a lighter.

:eyes:

But hey, blame the cops.

[MADem]

12. Me, neither. The guy was a jerk.

What were the cops supposed to do? Let the guy charge them?

[SIMPLYB1980]

14. Yeah seams that Darwin was at work with this guy. nt.

[hlthe2b]

17. Ahh, the cold, callous contingent has arrived right on schedule

Perhaps you'd feel differently if that were a severely depressed, suicidal family member or one who suffered mental disorder?


Then again, probably not...:eyes:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Why is it always the same handful of assholes?

[Maine-ah]

15. is it illegal to sniff glue?

seriously, wtf.

[Cid_B]

16. Brings the following image to mind...