UPDATE: BC man charged after setting 2 officers on fire

(UPDATE: April 12 @ 12:05 pm) – Multiple charges have been approved against a man after he allegedly set two Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers on fire during an attempted arrest Thursday night.

The BC Prosecution Service has approved charges against Jordan Mutual for one count of assaulting a police officer and one count of obstructing a police officer.

The 40-year-old will remain in custody until his next court appearance.

(Original story: April 11 @ 1:00 pm) – A Vancouver man is in jail after allegedly setting two police officers on fire during an attempted arrest Thursday night.

According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the officers were doing foot patrols near East Hastings and Carrall streets when they spotted the man jay-walking.

When they tried to detain the suspect, who the VPD says was wanted BC-wide for 10 different offences, he reportedly fled from the officers and a foot pursuit ensued.

“As they were taking the suspect into custody, it’s believed the man used a flammable substance to set the officers’ uniforms on fire, then continued to flee,” a police statement explained.

The officers were able to put out the fires themselves as they called in for backup to continue their pursuit of the suspect.

The 40-year-old man was arrested by other VPD members a short distance away. He was brought to a hospital for treatment of burn injuries before being brought to jail.

One of the officers was treated by paramedics for burn injuries as well, and is now recovering at home. The second officer did not sustain physical injuries.

The VPD is recommending multiple new charges against the suspect, including assaulting a police officer with a weapon, obstructing a police officer and breaching a release order.