This is a very sad case where life imitates art. CSI fans will remember that this has happened on the show before too. It became a huge investigation to find out why the man lit on fire. Not to mention the fact that the victim in that episode was fried to a crisp.
But for homeless man 31-year-old Daniel Wood, it became his reality this week. He ignited when police officers tasered him when he resisted arrest. In his case, though, he had a small fire and the police were able to put it out with their hands. He only suffers mild burns on his chest.
The reason the man was resisting arrest was the aerosol can fumes he had been huffing in public. From the looks of his mugshot, he was very likely under the influence and bystnders called him “incoherent.” Here’s what one of the police officers says about it:
“It’s an open spark,” explained Captain Adam Pillar of the Lancaster police. He said the Taser was working properly and it was likely the chemicals from the aerosol can, which Wood was carrying, that caught fire.
I hope he is ok and will get the help he seems to desperately need.