Barricaded Suspect Attacked Officers With Aerosol Can Blow Torch

Boston, MA – A barricaded suspect tried to set Boston police officers on fire Dec. 13 when they went to interview him over a prior domestic violence incident.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 when police went to do a follow-up investigation on a domestic incident that had left an adult woman seriously injured, according to a press release from the Boston Police Department.

When the officers arrived at the residence, they made contact with the suspect and tried to talk to him.

But police said that instead of talking to them, the suspect barricaded himself in the house and refused to surrender.

Officers talked to the suspect through the door and tried to get him to come out but instead he threatened to harm himself with a knife, according to the police department’s press release.

But police said that when the officers attempted to force entry, the suspect used an aerosol can and a lighter as a makeshift blowtorch to shoot flames at them.

The suspect threatened to burn the officers and set the building on fire and burn everyone in it, according to the police reported.

The officers were forced to break the door open to try and disarm the suspect, according to the press release.

Police confronted the man inside the dark residence and he attacked them, violently punching, kicking and spitting at the officers.

During the struggle, the suspect tried to grab one of the officer’s duty weapons, the press release said.

Police said the suspect yelled multiple times that he was going to take the gun and shoot the officers.

The suspect did not get control of the officer’s gun and they were eventually able to subdue the man and place him in handcuffs, the press release said.

Police said that suspect continued to violently resist arrest and it took multiple officers to get him into a prisoner transport wagon.

He was later transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to the press release.

Police said the suspect has been charged with four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, four counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and arson of a dwelling.

Boston police said both of the officers involved were injured during the melee and transported to the hospital for treatment.

Their injuries were not life threatening and both officers have since been released from the hospital, according to the police department’s press release.