Police say the man, who drove off before the gasoline thrown on him could be ignited, didn't know the suspect.
A man police threw gasoline on a total stranger and tried to light him on fire was arrested Wednesday by Westminster police.
Danh Thanh Nguyen, 36, of Westminster, was arrested immediately after a short pursuit ended with a collision with a small planter wall in the area of Brookhurst Street and Hazard Avenue. He was taken into custody without further incident and was not injured, Westminster police said. Investigators say Nguyen had walked up to a man sitting in his car at about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday and made a derogatory comment about Hispanics before throwing a cup of gasoline on him. Nguyen had a lighter, but the man drove off before he could ignite the gasoline, police said.
Nguyen drove away in a vehicle he didn't have permission to have, just before he was spotted in the area of Bushard Street and Westminster Avenue, police said.Nguyen was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, attempted arson, and civil rights violations. It's unclear if he will also face any hate crime charges. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Sept. 26.Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, hate crime after allegedly trying to set a man on fireAuthorities said 36-year-old Danh Thanh Nguyen approached a man seated in his vehicle and made “derogatory comments” about Hispanic people before throwing a cup of gasoline onto him.
Read more »
Man in custody after firing rifle at CPD officers in Little VillageOfficers observed the man with a rifle who then fired shots at them, police said.
Read more »
Bodycam video released shows deadly Zion police shooting of armed manPolice says the video shows a man opening fire on the responding officers before he was fatally shot by police.
Read more »
Atascocita QB Zion Brown growing into leadership roleAtascocita junior QB Zion Brown, thrown into the fires as a freshman, has emerged as a...
Read more »
Wanted Indiana man removed from sewer by police after hourslong searchA man who was believed to be armed with a rifle was taken into custody Tuesday in Bloomington, Indiana after police spent hours searching for him in the sewer system beneath the college town.
Read more »