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Dunedin Man Sets Self, Dogs, Vehicle On Fire

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Updated: 01/24/2008 02:51 pm

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - A Dunedin man was seriously burned this morning when he got into his sport utility vehicle, poured some liquid over himself and the vehicle's interior, and then set himself on fire, Pinellas County sheriff's officials say.

John A. Paulette, 41, was taken to Tampa General Hospital to be treated for his burns and to undergo a mental health evaluation, Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

One of two dogs Paulette had with him in the Ford Explorer died, but the other survived, though it was badly burned.

Paramedics gave the surviving canine morphine and an intravenous saline solution before a trip to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The next 24 hours will be crucial, said Beth Lockwood, the SPCA director.

The arson occurred at 7 a.m. in the driveway of Paulette's ex-girlfriend's home, 468 20th Ave.

The ex-girlfriend called 911, Bordner said. She told authorities that Paulette had been at the home about midnight but her father asked him to leave. He returned this morning.

When deputies arrived, they saw Paulette sitting in the Explorer pouring liquid on himself and the interior. Paulette opened the driver's side door and told deputies to retreat because he was about to blow himself up, then he slammed his door shut, Bordner said.

As a precaution, one of the deputies summoned firefighters, and moments later, flames erupted inside the Explorer, Bordner said.

Two deputies had begun to retrieve fire extinguishers from their patrol cars when Paulette emerged from the burning vehicle, Bordner said. At the time he was not on fire, but was badly burned. Paulette closed and locked the doors from the outside and then moved to the back of the Explorer, where it appeared he was trying to open the rear hatch.

Paulette ignored orders to move away from the Explorer, which was engulfed in flames. The deputies had to physically subdue Paulette and move him away from the vehicle as a third deputy used a fire extinguisher to break a window in an attempt to rescue the two dogs inside.

The third deputy suffered minor lacerations from broken glass and was burned on his forearm but was unable to rescue the dogs.

Deputies and neighbors then joined in, using fire extinguishers and garden hoses on the burning vehicle until firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze. Inside the rear cargo area of the vehicle, deputies and firefighters discovered a gasoline can and four 5-gallon propane tanks. The valves on the propane tanks were in the open position, and flames were erupting from at least one of the valves.

The injured deputy did not require medical treatment and returned to patrol duty.

No other injuries were reported.

Reporter Rod Challenger of WFLA News Channel 8 contributed to this report. Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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