bloodrayne
02-02-2007, 05:14 PM
Man Splashed With Lighter Fluid Uses Cane To Fight off Attacker
Seattle, Washington -- A man splashed lighter fluid on a stranger who fought him off with a metal cane, then used a lighter to set two women on fire, police and witnesses said.
Flames broke out on the women's clothing and hair, but no serious injuries were reported. Paul Alexander Pearson, 50, was arrested for investigation of assault, police Officer Debra Brown said.
The assault in downtown Seattle apparently began when the attacker ran up behind Gus Jones, 82, and dumped lighter fluid down his back at lunchtime Wednesday.
Jones felt someone grab his shoulder, smelled the fumes and hollered. Then, "I had to rap them with my cane," he told The Seattle Times. Jones, recovering from a broken hip, fell to the pavement but was not set afire.
"I cussed him out," Jones told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I bent my cane."
Witnesses said the attacker ran across the street and sneaked behind two women. Flames shot 3 feet high from one woman's hair before passers-by quelled them using their jackets, a witness who declined to be identified by name told the Post-Intelligencer.
"Her hair was going crazy," the witness said. "This woman erupted into flames."
Flames also broke out on the arm and jacket of Kristen McKie, 35, who was walking alongside, scorching some of her hair.
The witness, a bank analyst, said he and two other men chased the attacker into an alley, cornered him and turned him over to police.
A Zig Zag lighter was recovered, Officer Jeffery R. Kappel said.
There was no apparent motive, he said.
"It was a random act of violence," Kappel said.
Pearson was being held without bail in the county jail, Brown said
Seattle, Washington -- A man splashed lighter fluid on a stranger who fought him off with a metal cane, then used a lighter to set two women on fire, police and witnesses said.
Flames broke out on the women's clothing and hair, but no serious injuries were reported. Paul Alexander Pearson, 50, was arrested for investigation of assault, police Officer Debra Brown said.
The assault in downtown Seattle apparently began when the attacker ran up behind Gus Jones, 82, and dumped lighter fluid down his back at lunchtime Wednesday.
Jones felt someone grab his shoulder, smelled the fumes and hollered. Then, "I had to rap them with my cane," he told The Seattle Times. Jones, recovering from a broken hip, fell to the pavement but was not set afire.
"I cussed him out," Jones told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I bent my cane."
Witnesses said the attacker ran across the street and sneaked behind two women. Flames shot 3 feet high from one woman's hair before passers-by quelled them using their jackets, a witness who declined to be identified by name told the Post-Intelligencer.
"Her hair was going crazy," the witness said. "This woman erupted into flames."
Flames also broke out on the arm and jacket of Kristen McKie, 35, who was walking alongside, scorching some of her hair.
The witness, a bank analyst, said he and two other men chased the attacker into an alley, cornered him and turned him over to police.
A Zig Zag lighter was recovered, Officer Jeffery R. Kappel said.
There was no apparent motive, he said.
"It was a random act of violence," Kappel said.
Pearson was being held without bail in the county jail, Brown said