07-21-2009, 08:01 AM
A MAN was engulfed in flames after a police Taser hit him on the bridge of his nose while they were investigating claims of petrol sniffing.
Ronald Mitchell, 36, was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment following a confrontation with police who were called to a house in Warburton, 1,540km northeast of Perth on Monday.
Mitchell ran from the house at the officers carrying a container believed to contain fuel and a cigarette lighter, police said.
He was asked to stop but continued running toward the officers.
"An officer then deployed his Taser,'' police spokeswoman Susan Usher said. "The man caught alight and the officer immediately went to the man's aid, putting him on the ground and smothering the fire with his bare hands.''
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/ma...5752613397
Ronald Mitchell, 36, was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital for burns treatment following a confrontation with police who were called to a house in Warburton, 1,540km northeast of Perth on Monday.
Mitchell ran from the house at the officers carrying a container believed to contain fuel and a cigarette lighter, police said.
He was asked to stop but continued running toward the officers.
"An officer then deployed his Taser,'' police spokeswoman Susan Usher said. "The man caught alight and the officer immediately went to the man's aid, putting him on the ground and smothering the fire with his bare hands.''
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/ma...5752613397