BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Boynton Beach, Fla., police say a Taser stun gun set a car theft suspect's shirt on fire -- leaving the man with a burnt spot on his shirt but no injuries.
Police said they never before encountered that reaction to the 50,000-volt Tasers used by many police departments.
"I wish I knew more details," a Taser spokesman told the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post. The spokesman said a combustible such as gasoline or the alcohol in pepper spray may have sparked the fire.
The spokesman said Taser officials routinely aim the stun gun at paper and matches without either catching fire.
"I do it to my clothing all the time," the Taser spokesman said. "At a trade show, you do all the tricks."
While police said officers had been notified of the incident, the department said it would continue using Tasers.
Darrel Matheney, the 20-year-old man whom police chased for blocks before stopping him with the Taser, was charged with vehicle theft, fleeing and possession of marijuana.
