ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WOOD) — A suicidal man is in custody after authorities say he set fire to a home while talking to a negotiator on FaceTime.
St. Joseph officers were called to the 800 block of Wolcott Avenue at 7:35 a.m. Friday. There, they found the man had barricaded himself in a home that he had doused in gasoline and cut the gas line to.
After learning about the situation, officers evacuated nearby homes and asked other neighbors to shelter in place for their safety.
Authorities say they negotiated with the suspect for about two hours, but he eventually lit the house on fire during a video call with the negotiator.
A team of firefighters and officers then moved in and saved the suspect, who refused to evacuate. He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.