Man allegedly threatens to set customer on fire in servo standoff

A man is in police custody after he allegedly doused a service station customer in an accelerant and threatened to set him alight. PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE >>

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A MAN is in custody after he allegedly doused a service station customer in an accelerant and threatened to set him alight.

Tasmania Police Inspector Dave Wiss said the man had been “highly agitated” when he entered a Caltex on Gordons Hill Rd, Eastlands with a woman who was known to him at 7.39pm.

The 25-year-old man had been pulling things off shelves before he allegedly grabbed the woman in a headlock.

The pair then left the service station, but the male became more erratic when they returned soon after.

The area where a man allegedly doused himself in petrol at an Eastern Shore servo earlier tonight. Picture: TASMANIA POLICE

“He was demanding various things,” Inspector Wiss said.

“He grabbed some turps from the shelf and it is alleged that he was demanding a cigarette lighter from a service station attendant in the store.”

It is alleged he grabbed a male customer and poured the accelerant over him while flicking the flame of the lighter and threatening to set him alight.

Four police units attended to negotiate with the male while staff and the female known to him were able to leave safely.

Negotiators were on the way, but the male came out by 7.50pm and the lighter was seized.

“The male came out and was taken into custody,” Inspector Wiss said.

“He is now in Hobart and two detectives are speaking to him.”

Inspector Dave Wiss on scene of an incident in the Eastern Shore. Picture: Annie McCann

Though no one was injured, the Inspector said the male customer was “very shocked” by the altercation.

“The female behind the counter, you can imagine it would be very traumatic for her so she’s been very traumatised by it as well,” Inspector Wiss said.

Inspector Wiss said it was likely the man would be charged on two counts of assault and one count of robbery.

The Tasmanian Fire Service was called to the scene but was not needed.

Forensics remained on the scene to gather samples of the accelerant.