A federal wildlife officer deployed a taser at a gas station pump, igniting a fire that left an Arizona man with severe burns after a dispute over an alleged trespassing violation at a wildlife refuge.

Confrontation Turns Dangerous at Fuel Station

Clarence Coyl suffered first and second-degree burns on his hands and severe nerve damage after catching fire at a Thalypo gas station on July 16. The incident occurred when a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer, identified by his uniform as P. Nielsen, confronted Coyl about allegedly driving through an open gate at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge 20 minutes earlier. The officer had followed Coyl to the gas station to issue a citation for the trespassing violation.

Video footage captures the moment the confrontation escalated. The officer demanded Coyl’s license for identification while threatening arrest. Coyl questioned the basis for arrest over what he described as a minor misdemeanor violation. As Coyl challenged the officer’s authority, the crack of the deployed taser cut off his words. Flames immediately erupted at the gas pump, and screams filled the air as the phone recording the incident dropped to the ground.

Stop, Drop and Roll Saves His Life

Coyl described believing he would die in those terrifying moments. He relied on childhood safety training, using the stop-drop-and-roll technique to extinguish the flames engulfing his body. Paramedics transported him to a hospital where he spent five and a half hours receiving treatment. Remarkably, no law enforcement officers followed up at the hospital to question him, write a report, or pursue charges for the alleged trespassing that sparked the entire confrontation.

Federal Investigation Underway

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed an investigation into the taser deployment. Department of Interior policy explicitly prohibits using tasers near explosive or flammable materials like gasoline pumps, raising questions about whether the officer violated protocol. A spokesman stated that all taser deployments undergo mandatory review but declined further comment during the ongoing investigation. Coyl continues suffering psychological trauma from the incident, experiencing severe shaking, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares about the day he burst into flames over a disputed gate entry at a federal wildlife area.