'Deputies Prevent Man From Lighting Himself On Fire'

The man was arrested for Attempt to Elude, (a felony) and lodged in the Washington County Jail.

'94 Saturn that the man was driving when he apparently tried to light himself on fire. Photo: Washington County Sheriff’s Office

(ALOHA, Ore.) - Deputies in Washington County are credited with preventing a man from going up in flames. Sgt. Vance Stimler, Public Information Officer with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, says Saturday night, September 25, 2010 at 11:23 p.m., a call came in about 33-year-old Julio Yanez of Aloha's alleged plan to kill himself in front of his estranged girlfriend.

Stimler said, "Deputies learned that Mr. Yanez was upset over the state of his relationship. He had planned to pour gasoline on himself and light it."

With a description of the man's car, a green '94 Saturn, deputies set out to find him.

"Several deputies began to search the Aloha area in an effort to locate the Saturn. A deputy was fortunate to locate the vehicle and he attempted to contact Mr. Yanez. Mr. Yanez fled the scene and a brief pursuit ensued. Once Mr. Yanez was stopped, several deputies were on scene."

Stimler says deputies noticed that Mr. Yanez was smoking in the car.

"They gave several commands for Mr. Yanez to step out of the vehicle, but he did not respond. Deputies on scene were aware that Mr. Yanez might have gasoline with him or on his clothing. They could also see that he motioned as if he was going to touch his clothing with the lit cigarette.

"Deputies quickly made the decision to break the window and extinguish the cigarette with a fire extinguisher in case he attempted to light the gasoline."

He says that due to the quick actions of the deputies, Mr. Yanez was removed from the vehicle unharmed.

He was arrested for Attempt to Elude, (a felony) and lodged in the Washington County Jail.