Colonie police save Schenectady man who set himself on fire

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A suicidal Schenectady man was in critical condition this morning after setting himself on fire over the weekend and being saved by Colonie Police, police said.

The man, 41, whose name was not released, set himself on fire shortly after midnight Saturday morning.

Police responded to the area of Taft Furniture, 1960 Central Ave., then for a report of a despondent man who had doused himself with gasoline, threatening to harm himself, police said.

Police found the man in the furniture store’s lot. When they tried to speak with him, he lit himself on fire and ran from officers.

Officer Nicholas Burns, an 8-year veteran, ran after him and tackled him to the ground. Officers Edward Johnson and Robert Willey then used their fire extinguishers to douse the man. Burns was apparently uninjured.

The man was taken to Albany Medical Center with burns to his chest, arms and legs. He was then later taken to Westchester Medical Center for further treatment. His condition was listed this morning as critical, but stable.