Police: Man tried to light woman in wheelchair on fire | Crime

MODESTO, CA - A suspect was arrested after trying to light a woman in a wheelchair on fire Thursday afternoon.

The victim flagged down a police officer while waiting at the intersection of 18th and G streets in downtown Modesto after being approached by the suspect, Modesto police Lt. Rick Armendariz said.

According to Armendariz, Nathan Yarbrough, 45, called the victim the devil and promptly poured lighter fluid on her pants. Yarbrough then took out a lighter and was getting ready to light the victim of fire when the woman's husband scared the suspect away.

Another police officer, who happened to be nearby, located Yarbrough while he was walking near the intersection of Burney and 17th Street. Armendariz said Yarbrough seemed distraught and did not comply with the officer's commands. 

Yarbrough squirted lighter fluid onto the officer's boots when he tried to detain him. Yarbrough was then taken into custody and booked on charges of attempted murder, assault with a caustic chemical and elder abuse. 

Armendariz said neither the woman or the detaining officer suffered any harm from being dowsed with the light fluid.