Suicidal man covered in gasoline set ablaze after being Tasered
- 7 years ago
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Officers from the Arlington Police Department are under investigation after one cop Tased a suicidal man who had soaked himself in gasoline.
Officers were called to deal with Gabriel Olivas, 38, on Monday afternoon after two women reported a mentally ill man was threatening to hurt himself, reported NBC 5 Dallas Fortworth.
Olivas had covered himself in gasoline and was also reportedly holding a lighter. Police told NBC 5 that he continued to douse himself with fuel as they tried to calm him down, then began acting erratically.
Deeming him a threat to everyone in the room, one of the cops decided to subdue Olivas with a stun gun. That's when Olivas ignited.
The cops used blankets to put out the flames. Olivas survived, but suffered burns to most of his body.
What remains unknown, reports Dallas News , is if it was the lighter Olivas was holding or officer's stun gun that sparked the fire.
Olvias's wife told NBC 5 a different story. "They tased him. They knew he had gasoline. The officer said, 'If I tase him… he's gonna light on fire." And that's what they did, not even a second later."
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave until the case is resolved.
Officers were called to deal with Gabriel Olivas, 38, on Monday afternoon after two women reported a mentally ill man was threatening to hurt himself, reported NBC 5 Dallas Fortworth.
Olivas had covered himself in gasoline and was also reportedly holding a lighter. Police told NBC 5 that he continued to douse himself with fuel as they tried to calm him down, then began acting erratically.
Deeming him a threat to everyone in the room, one of the cops decided to subdue Olivas with a stun gun. That's when Olivas ignited.
The cops used blankets to put out the flames. Olivas survived, but suffered burns to most of his body.
What remains unknown, reports Dallas News , is if it was the lighter Olivas was holding or officer's stun gun that sparked the fire.
Olvias's wife told NBC 5 a different story. "They tased him. They knew he had gasoline. The officer said, 'If I tase him… he's gonna light on fire." And that's what they did, not even a second later."
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave until the case is resolved.