82-year-old man allegedly set himself, home on fire before throwing gas can at deputy- In a tragic incident, an 82-year-old man named Anthony Goulding allegedly set himself and his home on fire during an eviction process, leading to a dangerous confrontation with law enforcement officers.
The incident occurred in Oklahoma City, where two female deputies from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office were serving an eviction notice to Goulding and his wife, who were living in a home on Flamingo Avenue. The deputies had been working with the couple for weeks to find them a safe place to stay, as they were scheduled to move to an extended-stay facility, with an Uber waiting to take them there.
As the deputies were attempting to escort Goulding’s wife out of the home, Goulding began pouring gasoline on the carpet outside of a back bedroom. When one of the deputies asked him what he was doing, Goulding responded, “You ready?” and then ignited the gasoline-soaked carpet with a lighter. His right arm caught fire, and in response, a deputy pushed him to the ground to prevent him from setting himself on fire. However, Goulding then threw a gas canister at the deputy, causing her to back away from the bedroom. The flames grew larger, and both deputies had to run to the living room to rescue Goulding’s wife, who was unable to walk out of the house on her own. They had to drag her out of the home to safety.
The incident was captured on body camera footage, which was later released by the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Tommie Johnson III praised the courage of the deputies, who were trying to save a life amidst the chaos. He noted that the home was quickly overtaken by fire and smoke, preventing the deputies from making another entry to save Goulding. Johnson III highlighted the emotional and dangerous nature of serving eviction notices, especially in situations involving vulnerable populations like the elderly.
Both of the female deputies involved in the incident were medically cleared, with one suffering minor burns. Goulding’s wife was also reported to be okay and living in a safe place. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in high-risk situations involving emotionally charged circumstances, and it underscores the need for increased awareness and support for vulnerable populations facing housing insecurity.
