Idiots among us

From the Times Picayune.....

Man burns car and himself, cops say
Attempt to torch stolen car backfires, they say
Saturday, August 05, 2006
By Paul Rioux
Inspired by the TV show "CSI," a Covington man tried to torch a stolen car to cover his tracks but spilled gasoline on himself and burned his arms and hands, police said.

Joe Brumfield, 20, suffered second-degree burns and will be booked with auto theft upon his release from the Baton Rouge Burn Center, Covington police Lt. Jack West said.

He doused a 2002 Ford Taurus with gasoline early Wednesday on Louisiana 59 north of Abita Springs, drenching his arms in the process, West said. He then lit a match and set both the car and his arms on fire, police said.

Brumfield tried to call 911 on a stolen cell phone, but could not grip it with his burning hands, West said.

Brumfield managed to extinguish the flames on his arms, and a passerby drove him to the LSU Medical Center in Bogalusa, where doctors notified authorities, West said.

During questioning by police, Brumfield admitted setting the car on fire so it could not be traced to him, a tactic he said he had picked up while watching "CSI," West said.

The phone, which had been stolen in New Orleans, was found next to the burned-out car, which had been reported stolen in Covington a few hours before it was torched, West said.

"I never want to wish anyone harm, but you've got to admit that trying to dial 911 with flaming fingers must have been quite a spectacle," he said.

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Paul Rioux can be reached at prioux@timespicayune.com or (985) 645-2852.





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