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Police: Butte man set himself on fire while trying to avoid arrest

Posted at 3:23 PM, Nov 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-21 17:23:38-05

BUTTE - Police in Butte say a wanted man set himself on fire Tuesday night in an attempt to get away from a police officer who was trying to arrest him.

It happened just after midnight at this Thriftway store on Front Street when an officer was trying to arrest Joshua Smith for outstanding warrants.

Smith is accused of struggling with the officer and then igniting a can of spray paint in the front pocket of his hoodie.

Smith's sweater caught fire and the officer quickly put out the flames with his hands. No one was injured in the incident and Smith remains in jail.