Manitowoc Police say a 33-year-old man is in custody after he was hit with a stun gun three times and caught on fire Friday.
According to police, the incident began around 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 14 in the area of S. 25th St. and Hamilton St. for a report of a naked man standing in the middle of the street yelling that he had a knife and that he was going to “gut” someone.
When officers arrived, they say they found the 33-year-old in the intersection. When questioned, the man told police he was not doing anything wrong. Police say the officers attempted to take the man to a squad car when he resisted.
During the struggle, one of the officers used a stun gun on the suspect, but there was no effect, according to police. When officers used the stun gun a second time, one of the gun's probes struck a lighter the suspect had grabbed, puncturing the lighter and starting a fire. The fire included the suspect’s facial and chest hair, police say.
Officers attempted to put out the flames, but the suspect resisted their attempts. The suspect was eventually hit with a stun gun a third time. When EMS arrived, police say the suspect continued to resist and they sedated him and took him to the hospital for treatment.
Police say they later found a folding knife along with the man’s pants at his home. The suspect was arrested for Felony Resisting/Battery to Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct, and Lewd And Lascivious Behavior.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Manitowoc Police Department at 920-686-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 920-683-4466. Anyone with information may remain anonymous.
