Man sets himself on fire checking level of stolen gasoline

Man sets himself on fire checking level of stolen gasoline
By Shavonne Potts

Salisbury Post

The Rowan County Sheriff's Department has charged a Concord man who officers say accidentally set himself on fire lighting a cigarette lighter to see how much gas he'd stolen.

Charles William Tallent, 25, of 387 Cameron Lane, is charged with two counts of larceny after breaking and entering, one count of injury to real property, two counts of felony larceny of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Officers said the incidents happened about two weeks ago. Tallent was charged Monday.

According to the sheriff's department, Tallent lit a lighter to check a container to see how much gas he'd siphoned from a riding lawn mower into a container. He suffered severe burns to his hands and legs when the gas ignited.

"The container caught on fire and he caught on fire," said Sheriff George Wilhelm.

The fire spread to a nearby garage as well as the home of Ray Kiziah of 790 Playground Lane, near High Rock Lake.

Officers say that before stealing the gas, Tallent went into a house at 430 Old Wood Lane, Salisbury, where he took a .12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber handgun. According to an arrest report, Tallent confessed to the crimes.

He was released on a written promise to appear in court.

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Guess you could call this an 'in-lighting experience'!