Suspect Accused Of Trying To Set Man On Fire In Orange County

WESTMINSTER, CA — A 36-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after reportedly pouring gasoline on another man and attempting to light him on fire in Westminster, the Westminster Police Department reported.

Danh Nguyen, of Westminster, was booked into the Orange County Jail for attempted murder and attempted arson, according to a Westminster Police Department news statement.

Westminster police were called at about 11:45 a.m. to McFadden Avenue and Oakcliff Drive on reports of an assault. After arriving to the scene, officers spoke to the victim who said that he was sitting in his car when he was approached by a man, authorities said.

The victim also told police that the man "made a derogatory comment towards Hispanics, then threw a cup of gasoline on him" before allegedly attempting to ignite the gasoline with a lighter, according to the statement.

The victim was able to drive away in his vehicle and left the scene uninjured, police said.

The suspect — who was later identified as Nguyen — left the scene "in a vehicle he did not have permission to have," police said.

He was located later by police in the area of Bushard Street and Westminster Avenue, and attempted to flee when police tried to stop him. Authorities said Nguyen led police on a short pursuit that ended when the vehicle Nguyen was in crashed with a planter wall in the area of Brookhurst Street and Hazard Avenue.

He was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

No further details were immediately available.