Qld: Man tries to set himself and police alight
14 Dec 2008 12:43 PM
BRISBANE, Dec 14 AAP - A man has tried to set himself and police officers alight in south-east Queensland.
Police called to a Meringandan property, north of Toowoomba, at 9.30pm (AEST) on Saturday found a man lying on top of a pile of timber and threatening to set himself on fire.
On seeing the officers, the man doused himself in fuel and began lighting the timber, police said.
When an officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames the man lunged at him, sprayed him with fuel, and tried to set him alight.
The officers struggled with the man before restraining him.
The man was taken to Toowoomba Hospital, examined and released.
Both officers received hospital treatment after one had petrol splashed in his eye and the other had an asthma attack triggered by the petrol vapour.
A 34-year-old man is due to appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on January 7 charged with serious assault.
