CATSKILL, N.Y. — A New York man was hospitalized after he burst into flames when police used a stun gun to subdue him after he doused himself with hand sanitizer, authorities confirmed Friday.
Jason Jones, 29, of Catskill, was in an intensive care unit at a Syracuse hospital, the Times-Union of Albany reported.
Jones, who was admitted to the burn unit of the hospital after the Oct. 29 incident, was in grave condition, the newspaper reported.
Jones’ attorney, Kevin Luibrand, said his client was shocked with a Taser while he was inside the Catskill police station, WRGB reported. Jones reportedly caught on fire due to hand sanitizer on his body, the television station reported.
Catskill man burst into flames after police tasered him — Source: Officers watched him douse himself with hand sanitizer just before the incident. https://t.co/CDmGCkSTgv via @TimesUnion
— Brendan Lyons (@Brendan_LyonsTU) November 5, 2021
Many hand sanitizer products are alcohol-based and can be flammable if improperly used or stored, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to police, Jones walked into the police station and appeared to be intoxicated, the Times-Union reported. Catskill Police Chief Dave Darling confirmed that officers deployed a Taser to subdue Jones, the newspaper reported.
“I think they were afraid he was going to hurt himself, and that’s what started it,” Darling told the Times-Union. “There are still details that we’re trying to develop.”
It is unclear when Jones poured the hand sanitizer on himself, or whether authorities saw him do it, the newspaper reported.
Darling said his officers do not have body cameras, but there are surveillance cameras at the police station, according to the Times-Union.
Darling called the incident “horrible” and said the case is under investigation by the Greene County district attorney’s office.
Luibrand said the exchange was caught on video and has asked for “all relevant information,” WRGB reported.
“The goal right now is to preserve whatever evidence there is as to what happened and for (Jones) to do his best with doctors to recover as far as he can,” Luibrand told the television station.
Jones graduated from Catskill High School in 2010, where he was a star athlete in basketball and track, the Register-Star of Hudson reported. He was the Patroon Conference champion in the shot put and discus events, the newspaper reported.
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