Posted on 01/28/2010 11:53:44 PM PST by tlb
A Portland police officer accidentally used pepper spray instead of a fire extinguisher on a man who lit himself on fire downtown near a fur store Wednesday.
When the officer went to get a fire extinguisher out of the trunk of her patrol car, she accidentally grabbed a large can of pepper spray used in riot control. Sizer said the pepper spray cans are red like a fire extinguisher.
Kim Kosmas of the Fire Bureau said the spray "didn't have any additional reaction with him already being on fire."
"I have never heard of a situation like this," Sizer said. "To be confronted with someone fully engulfed in flames is something that is so unexpected and so outside the norm that you respond very instinctively. And in many, many ways, her acts were heroic."
The man who set himself afire, 26-year-old Daniel Shaull of Dodge City, Kan., died at a hospital later Wednesday. His father, Warren, said his son had psychiatric problems and was living on the streets.
The officer, who has been on the job for fewer than 10 years, did not know she had used pepper spray until she got back to central precinct, Sizer said. Another officer found the empty can later at the scene.
Police spokeswoman Mary Wheat said the officer is on vacation that was planned before the incident. Police are not pursuing any disciplinary action, she said. She declined to identify the officer.
Sizer said the bureau is going to look at ways to better distinguish items carried in trunks.
When Shaull set himself on fire, a person driving by also responded immediately and grabbed a fire extinguisher from his truck. Sizer said Shaull was running away from those trying to help him. Several officers and residents were later involved, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at oregonlive.com ...
Seeings how it was a stupid fur protester that set himself on fire, I don’t feel too much sympathy.
He was obviously nuts. Still, he set himself on fire. Were I on a jury I wouldn’t convict the police woman of anything. I am sure it was an accident.
Other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
>>Sizer said Shaull was running away from those trying to help him.
Well, there ya go. The guy made up his and wanted to die for fur. I wished he Craigslist’ the event so people would bring their own marshmallows.
Whose bright idea was it to use the same color for two different chemical containers?
Fight fire with fire.
>>Sizer said Shaull was running away from those trying to help him.
Well, there ya go. The guy made up his and wanted to die for fur. I wished he Craigslist’ the event so people would bring their own marshmallows.
Domestic terrorism has its price.
I know they are looney in Portland, but I never thought they would be this dumb.
What next, suicide bombers?
I take a stern view when it comes to LEO shenanigans, and I can’t see how this was anything more that an unfortunate mistake. An administrative matter, not a criminal one.
A follow up, adding insult to (fatal) injury.
PEBA - People Eating Blackened Activists
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll rot in hell for that one.
All I can say is pepper spray on burning flesh must of made his last moments even more awful...
His friends will go on worrying about animals killed by humans [but never animals torn apart by their iconic "politically correct" animals such as wolves] but in short order probably won't give this human beings' wasted life a second thought unless they can use it to procure more money for their lobbying industry.
Have to admit, after reading the headline I wonder if she kicked him in the [censored] when he went down, just to make sure.
OMG & LMAO!
Yup. Always make sure the doors aren't locked, before you set yourself on fire and try to run inside.
An even better plan is go inside, then douse & light yourself.
Nobody ever accused PETA freaks of possessing a working brain.
Bet there's a few good jokes in there though.
Well, cheking for a pulse was out of the question, so the next step is to check for reflexes.
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