Madison police prevent man from lighting himself on fire

Madison police said officers kept a man from lighting himself on fire with a can of gasoline and a lighter late Sunday night on Madison’s east side.

The incident happened in the parking lot of Copps in the 2500 block of Shopko Drive just after 10 p.m.

According to police, the man was holding an open can of gasoline and a lighter while smoking a cigarette.

Officer talked with the man for about 30 minutes in order to get him to put down the gas can, according to police.

However, at the end of the negotiations, the man began to raise the gas can as if to pour the gas on himself. At that point, police said a sergeant ran at the man and tackled him to the ground. Other officers helped take the man into custody.