Police Set Man On Fire With Taser — Again

Police in Perth are investigating a case where officers accidentally set a 44-year-old man on fire after shooting him with a taser. The man has previously doused himself and his house with fuel and was threatening to light himself on fire. This is the second such case for the city’s police, here, in less than a year.

After spraying fuel everywhere, the man had told police that he was looking for a match. He didn’t need one. The police burst into the house and ignited the man with a taser. While I commend the officers for their bravery in going into a house filled with fuel and a crazed individual, it would seem obvious that shooting the fuel-covered suspect with a taser is not a good idea for suspect or the officers in the room. As bad as it was, it could have been much worse if the entire house caught fire.

He survived with burns over 20 percent of his body.

Department policies discourage the use of tasers in situations involving doused individuals or combustible elements.

We have also seen individuals burst into flames after being shot with tasers in this country, here.

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