Video: Blast Ends Ariz. Police Chase when Driver Ignites Propane with Torch
Source Officer.com News
A high-speed Arizona police chase ended in a massive explosion and fire Wednesday when a suspect used a blowtorch to ignite a propane tank.
The incident began at about 4:15 p.m. when Yavapai County sheriff's deputies and Prescott police were searching for James Crespo, a 70-year-old man wanted on a felony warrant, KPHO-TV reports. According to authorities, Crespo was believed to be armed, and he had threatened to blow up people, including police officers.
Prescott police eventually located Crespo and tried to pull him over. The suspect fled, kicking off a pursuit.
Officers deployed stop sticks ahead of Crespo, who slowed his vehicle as he approached the devices. According to authorities, he then lit a blowtorch and began pumping large amounts of propane out his window as he kept driving, according to an online update by the sheriff's office.
As the chase continued, police used their cruisers to box in Crespo after another officer had used a vehicle to ram the suspect. Crespo's car then exploded, and flames quickly consumed his vehicle.
"After, several other tanks continued to blow up, and the fire began to spread," the sheriff's office stated. "Deputies began to use verbal de-escalation techniques to get the suspect to crawl to the edge of the flames."
An injured Crespo escaped his car with a blowtorch and a propane tank. He was arrested by police and flown to a Phoenix hospital.
The fire from the explosion also spread to a Yavapai County deputy’s cruiser and to the surrounding neighborhood. No deputies or officers were hurt during the incident.
"Great teamwork between YCSO and Prescott PD, to get a possibly very dangerous situation under control, without any law enforcement or members of the public getting hurt," the sheriff's office stated.
Along with the outstanding felony warrant, Crespo also faces multiple charges from Wednesday's chase. Prescott police is investigating the incident.
