A police chase ended with the suspect bursting into flames after a petrol canister in his backpack was ignited by a stun gun deployed by officers.
A shocking video released by local police shows suspect Christopher Gaylor fleeing the police on a motorcycle, dangerously cutting through traffic before dismounting and attempting to flee on foot.
As officers chase Gaylor, a burst of flame suddenly appears which quickly spread consuming him. Reports suggest the officer had stun gunned him which connected with the petrol in his backpack.
The 38-year-old suspect was told to pull over by state troopers for not having a licence plate on his motorcycle in the early hours of October 13.
Instead he sped off reaching speeds of up to 100mph.
Once the fire breaks out officers can be heard shouting: "He's on fire. He's on fire."
The burning suspect can be heard shouting "Help me!" as he rolls on the ground trying to extinguish the flames.
One of the officers ran back to the car to get a fire extinguisher and puts out the flames.
The suspect is then promptly arrested as he says: "I can't breath."
An officer responds: "None of us can. Put your hands behind your back."
The incident happened in the Arkansas capital of Little Rock.
Gaylor is still recovering from injuries and faces a number of charges including felony fleeing, reckless driving, failure to register a vehicle, no liability insurance, driving with a suspended licence.
Although usually non-lethal, the use of a stun gun continues to be widely criticised by criminal justice campaigners.
Earlier this month a deputy police officer who used a stun gun on a 12-year-old autistic child was told he can keep his licence.
Matthew Honas was working as Jackson County Kansas sheriff's deputy when he handcuffed and hogtied the boy on February 23 in Holton, which is around 90 minutes away from Kansas.
He was responding to a call which said a foster child was trying to run away.
The officer shoved and pushed the child to the ground and hogtied the child, which involves putting the person on their stomach and tying his cuffed hands to his feet behind his back with an adjustable belt.
According to a report by The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, this method affected his "ability to breathe properly”.
It is also a method that has been widely stopped.
The child was then placed in the police car and handcuffed when the officer pressed on the boy's jaw pressure points.
Just five minutes later, Matthew used a stun gun on the 12-year-old as he was handcuffed and unable to move.
The CPOST said the child was not a threat to the officer or others around him.
The “unreasonableness” of Matthew were criticised as he refused help from two other colleagues and did not try and calm the situation.
He also swore at the child and threatened to stun gun him again. The report stated he also knew the boy was autistic.
The officer, who had worked at Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas since 2006, breached the excessive use of force.
Matthew left the police on March 3 after he was sacked by Jackson County.
They found his use of force was excessive under the circumstances and its policy does not allow excessive use of force.
He is currently not employed as a police officer in Kansas.
The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training decided to reprimand Matthew, which means he can keep his officers' licence.
