Madison Police Subdue Suicidal Man Who Doused Himself With Gasoline: Police

A very tense time in Madison Thursday afternoon and for police officers, as a suicidal man lunged at police officers “while spreading gasoline on the floor as well as dousing himself with gasoline,” said Police Sgt. Joseph A. Race.

“As the individual began “flicking” a lighter, members of the Madison Police Department sprayed the area with fire extinguishers and were able to subdue the individual without further incident,” Race said.

The individual was transported to a medical facility for evaluation. No emergency responders were injured during this event.

The incident began this afternoon as the Madison resident, who was not named, but police said the resident was under severe emotional distress, communicated to a loved-one a desire to harm himself, police said.

This communication resulted in a 911 call to the Madison Emergency Communications Center. Based upon the facts communicated by the loved-one to the 911 dispatcher, members of the Madison Police Department, including a Crisis Negotiator; Madison Ambulance Association; North Madison Volunteer Fire Company; and Madison Hose Company No. 1 responded to the scene, police said.

Upon arriving on scene, members of the Madison Police Department made contact with the individual as he paced around the second floor of a barn on the property, police said, before they were able to take him into custody.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Madison Police Department and the Town of Madison Fire Marshal’s Office.