Australian man set alight after Taser used
Updated: 21 Jul 2009
A MAN from a remote western desert community was last night being airlifted to a Perth hospital after he was shot by police with a Taser gun and engulfed in flames.
The incident happened about midday yesterday at the West Australian community of Warburton after police went to a house where Ronald Mitchell and others were sniffing petrol.
Last night a crew from the Royal Flying Doctor Service airlifted Mr Mitchell to a Perth hospital to be treated for burns to 20 per cent of his body.
It is unclear exactly how the 36-year-old was set alight but family members told The Australian that his body burst into flames after the Taser hit him on the bridge of his nose.
His sister, Morinda West, said Mr Mitchell was sniffing petrol in his mother's house when police banged on the door and asked him to come out.
He eventually decided to leave and went to the front of the house with a lighter and a two-litre orange juice container full of petrol, she said.
"He must have put petrol on his face, then the policeman shot him with the Taser, that's when the flames happened," she said.
A police spokeswoman said a male police officer fired the Taser when Mr Mitchell ran at police with the petrol container and refused to stop when asked.
She said Mr Mitchell then caught alight and the police officer immediately went to his aid, smothering the flames with his arms.
She said at the same time the male officer was hit in the head with rocks thrown by an 18-year-old woman.
Lol @ petrol sniffin...
Updated: 21 Jul 2009
A MAN from a remote western desert community was last night being airlifted to a Perth hospital after he was shot by police with a Taser gun and engulfed in flames.
The incident happened about midday yesterday at the West Australian community of Warburton after police went to a house where Ronald Mitchell and others were sniffing petrol.
Last night a crew from the Royal Flying Doctor Service airlifted Mr Mitchell to a Perth hospital to be treated for burns to 20 per cent of his body.
It is unclear exactly how the 36-year-old was set alight but family members told The Australian that his body burst into flames after the Taser hit him on the bridge of his nose.
His sister, Morinda West, said Mr Mitchell was sniffing petrol in his mother's house when police banged on the door and asked him to come out.
He eventually decided to leave and went to the front of the house with a lighter and a two-litre orange juice container full of petrol, she said.
"He must have put petrol on his face, then the policeman shot him with the Taser, that's when the flames happened," she said.
A police spokeswoman said a male police officer fired the Taser when Mr Mitchell ran at police with the petrol container and refused to stop when asked.
She said Mr Mitchell then caught alight and the police officer immediately went to his aid, smothering the flames with his arms.
She said at the same time the male officer was hit in the head with rocks thrown by an 18-year-old woman.
Lol @ petrol sniffin...
