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Pepper Spray Mistakenly Used On Burning Man
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Original Message
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"PORTLAND, Ore. -- A police officer accidentally used pepper spray instead of a fire extinguisher on a man who set himself on fire Wednesday in downtown Portland, police said.
The officer happened to be nearby when she saw the man go up in flames near Southwest 12th Avenue and Yamhill Street. She scrambled out of her patrol car and grabbed what she believed to be the extinguisher, according to Police Chief Rosie Sizer.
It wasn't until after the incident that the officer realized she grabbed a large pepper spray canister used for crowd control, Sizer said.
Investigators said the pepper spray did not contribute to the intensity of the fire.
"In fact, it didn't contribute to his death. The pepper spray is water-based, not alcohol-based. It's not an accelerant and the fire bureau assured us it didn't make matters worse but, certainly, it's something that is regrettable," Sizer said.
Portland police said the man, identified as 26-year-old Daniel Shaull, of Kansas, made attempts to avoid being sprayed by an actual fire extinguisher used by a Good Samaritan at the scene.
Shaull later died at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
The pepper spray canister and the fire extinguisher are both painted red, police said.
The police bureau is considering changes to the labeling and placement of the pepper spray and fire extinguisher canisters to avoid confusion in the future.
Sizer said there will be no disciplinary action taken against the officer."
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