Suspect tries to torch gas-soaked vehicle with a battery booster

A 41-year-old man is in police custody after trying to light his gas-soaked car on fire with a battery booster.

It was the conclusion of a police chase on the city’s west side Tuesday evening.

Officers were called around 7:56 p.m. to a home on Hamilton Place for a disturbance. Officers arrived to find a man dumping gasoline on and inside of a vehicle.

The suspect then got into that vehicle and drove across a yard and through a fence. Officers located that vehicle at a gas station on 22nd Street and Witney Avenue purchasing more fuel. Officers attempted to make an arrest but the suspect drove off again.

According to a news release, police used tire deflation devices at several locations, but were unsuccessful. The driver stopped on two occasions where officers attempted to do a high-risk traffic stop. The last location was in the 1000 block on Second Avenue North, where the driver put his vehicle into reverse and rammed a patrol vehicle.

The driver then continued driving northbound on Warman Road at which point two additional patrol units made vehicle contact and were able to successfully stop the suspect vehicle.

Police said the suspect then attempted to set his vehicle on fire using a car battery booster. Officers hit the suspect with a conducted energy weapon (CEW) when he continued to be aggressive and non-compliant.

A police dog was deployed and was successful in bringing down the suspect.

The man is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. He is facing a numerous charges, including three counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats to cause death, dangerous driving, and possession of incendiary materials.

One officer involved suffered a minor head injury.