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.
Sources
New York Post: Horrifying moment Arizona man bursts into flames immediately after cop tasered him
As it has always been said 2 wrongs don’t make a right, They both were wrong, the man pumping gas for not complying with the officer immediately, & the officer for deploying the tasyer. the man pumping gas was not presenting a threat in any way according to the report, so the officer should never have pulled his taser. Good luck to the officer, & best wishes
for a speedy recovery for the other man.
God Bless America, & God Bless our troops over seas & here at home.
!0-4, good comment: my take also. Dumb-azz pig meets dumb-azz critter dirt-ball
Why in the Hell would law enforcement not have better sense than to use something that could ignite gas or gas fumes at a gas station? These officers need to be screened for their level of “common sense” as well as IQ and formal education.
Actually, I wish they would screen you first.. I don’t know why I feel that way. I guess it’s just because I’m tired of hearing all this stuff about the police. And how they are so bad? If you’re so damn good, why don’t we screen you first?
See Einstein you didn’t get burned,if your feelings get hurt easily,find a mommy!
Why do we have laws anyway. People get away with muder and more because they don’t want to follow the rules, the law. If you don’t want a ticket don’t break the law. If you don’t want to go to jaill Don’t do the crime. Im sick of police being blamed for stupid people who think their above the law. And the man was calling the officer names and being aggressive. Cops do their job and stupid judges and lawers let law breakers go. That man was lucky he didn’t die, all because he wouldn’t follow the RULES.
He’ll sue and make a fortune at the taxpayers expense
Cops are some of dumbest people you will ever meet.
Not all Law Enforcement Officers, just a few that should be assigned as school monitors.
Could have been handled differently. Sunburns are first and second degree burns so he is not hurt bad for breaking rules, and will probably sue. The officer will fare worse.
…Something of an ‘over-reaction’, perhaps?
The problem here is that this “game” officer wasn’t a police officer. They are trained about Pepper spray and tazers making suspects go up in flames. The gas pump vapors caused a cloud of flammable gas. The game cop, just added the needed spark.
People keep blaming the officer. He shouldn’t have deployed the taser and instead went over and cracked him in his mouth.
When these idiots that keep arguing and not complying with officers I say they Deserve Exactly What Happens. This guy knew he was wrong and was still arguing and resorted to screaming and cursing. He should have had the other weapon used in him.
Democrat politicians have gotten all of these idiots thinking that they don’t have to comply with law enforcement anymore and stuff like this is the result!
If you stand there screaming, cursing and not complying you deserve to be put down. The guy was acting drunk or on drugs. Normal People don’t act like that. You can definitely tell that he is a Democrat.
The cop ? was an idiot half the people in comment sections are idiots ! Anybody with 2 ounces of common sense won’t shoot a a tazer at somebody pumping gasoline in their car !