Pepper Spray Mistakenly Used On Burning Man

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.kptv.com/news/22369536/detail.html

Chief: Pepper Spray Didn't Contribute To Man's Death

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A police officer accidentally used pepper spray instead of a fire extinguisher on a man who set himself on fire Wednesday in downtown Portland, police said.

The officer happened to be nearby when she saw the man go up in flames near Southwest 12th Avenue and Yamhill Street. She scrambled out of her patrol car and grabbed what she believed to be the extinguisher, according to Police Chief Rosie Sizer.

It wasn't until after the incident that the officer realized she grabbed a large pepper spray canister used for crowd control, Sizer said.

Investigators said the pepper spray did not contribute to the intensity of the fire.

"In fact, it didn't contribute to his death. The pepper spray is water-based, not alcohol-based. It's not an accelerant and the fire bureau assured us it didn't make matters worse but, certainly, it's something that is regrettable," Sizer said.

----

:wow:

[Wilms]

1. I found a picture of a RED pepper spray cannister.

I'd say that's an unfortunate choice of colors. :eyes:

[me b zola]

2. If the story doesn't make you sick, the comments at the link will

People are expressing sorrow for the officer with no mention of the man who died. One person who did express sadness was admonished by another poster.

[stevedeshazer]

6. You're right. The man was mentally ill, not a protester. Link:

http://www.katu.com/news/local/82986637.html

Father: Son who burned himself alive was a troubled genius

<snip>

PORTLAND, Ore. – The father of a man who set himself on fire Wednesday in downtown Portland and died from the subsequent injuries said his son had mental issues and had tried suicide before.

Warren Shaull, the father of Daniel Shaull, 26, talked to KATU News shortly after hearing about his son’s death.

“Because of the way that he thinks, maybe he thought that was the only way out,” Warren Shaull said. He added that Daniel may have become convinced “that nothing was ever going to change and there was nothing he could do about it."

According to witnesses, Daniel Shaull doused himself with gasoline and then lit the fuel while he stood outside the Portland furrier Nicholas Ungar Furs, located in downtown Portland.

</snip>

[tblue]

3. Egad! [cringe]

Omg! It hurts just to read that.

[Bluebear]

4. 'In fact, it didn't contribute to his death.' - it didn't prevent it either, Chief.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. Police departments need to do a better job of ensuring that people don't set themselves on fire. n/t

[Bluebear]

8. Ha ha ha!

Ha!

[NYC_SKP]

5. While the use of pepper didn't contribute to death, maybe NOT using the extinguisher did.

It's fine, pepper spray didn't make it worse.

But could the man have been saved if the office had used the extinquisher?

No winners in this one.

[MissB]

11. The guy kept running away from folks who did have actual fire extinguishers.

Sad that the guy was so disturbed. I do feel for the police officer too, and hope that the bureau immediately makes the appropriate color change to the riot pepper spray cannisters.

Our local news station noted that the guy's father didn't hold the police officer responsible, which was a kind thing for a grieving man to say.

[old mark]

9. Everybody knows she should have used a taser. Looks like they

lowered the IQ requirements for police school again, officer dimbo....


mark

[TexasObserver]

10. Well, it's better than trying to put it out with a taser or billy club.