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If you thought getting tased was bad enough, what if you also caught on fire? A Florida man was tased at a gas station and suddenly burst into flames. Police officers weren’t even supposed to be following him. 

Police officers tase a man at a gas station, setting him on fire 

Jean Barreo-Baerga was minding his own business without committing any crimes when he was tackled and tased near a fuel pump at a gas station. 

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopes is accused of setting off a chain of events that resulted in police officers wrongly pursuing Barreto-Baerga, which left him with severe burns covering 75% of his body. 

According to Tampa Bay, Lopez promised to crack down on street bikers. Then Barreto-Baerga was mistaken for a motorcycle rider suspected of aggravated assault. He was followed by police deputies and a helicopter unit. 

Officers followed him even though they were told that Barreto-Baegra didn’t fit the suspect’s description. But they continued to follow him to a Wawa location outside of their jurisdiction. 

Barreto-Baegra was just stopping to get gas, unaware of the pursuit. Then he was tackled by cops, and his motorcycle fell over, spilling gas on the ground. 

An ambulance driving at night
Ambulance | iStock

Officers tased him and he went up in flames. Barreto-Begra received second and third-degree burns and spent a year in an intensive care unit. 

He is suing Lopez and other officers involved in the incident for constitutional violations, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more. 

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages and demands a jury trial. Barreto-Baerga used to be an avid motorcycle rider. Now he feels alone as he suffers constant physical pain. 

He shared that everything changed that day. He relieves the nightmare every single day. Barreto-Baerga was so badly injured that doctors told his parents he probably wouldn’t survive. 

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.