An attempt by Baltimore County police to save a suicidal man failed Friday morning when he set fire to himself in a Middle River home after having been stunned with a Taser.
A police spokeswoman said the man called 911 about 10:20 a.m. and told operators he was planning to kill himself. Police responded to the home in the first block of Clearwater Court and tried to bring him under control by shocking the man as he stood at an open window.
According to police, the man recovered from the shock and retreated deeper into the house. Officers followed him but were unable to stop him from setting himself on fire. Firefighters were called at 10:45 a.m. and took about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.