Body-Cam Footage Shows The Horrific Moment A Police Taser Sets A Man On Fire Near A Gas Pump In Florida

LAKE MARY, Fla. - The Osceola County Sheriff's Office has released additional video from body cameras worn by deputies during an attempted arrest of a man at a Wawa gas station following a pursuit in February, that resulted in a sudden explosion of fire and multiple people hurt. The video shows an apparent struggle between deputies and a suspect, 26-year-old Jean Barreto-Baerga, followed by a sudden explosion of fire.

Barreto-Baerga suffered burns to 75% of his body during the incident, according to his attorney, and three deputies were also burned – two had minor injuries and were released, but a third deputy suffered third-degree burns and remains hospitalized.

The sheriff’s office on Thursday recommended a misdemeanor charge – culpable negligence -- against Deputy David Crawford after he fired a gasoline-covered Taser at Barreto-Baerga. According to the State Fire Marshal, it was the Taser that ignited the fire, which left both Crawford and Barreto-Baerga severely burned, and two other deputies with minor injuries.

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said Deputy Crawford knew there was gasoline in the area and by firing the Taser, his actions were "reckless" and showed no regard for human life, which rose to the level of a potential crime.