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Man facing drug charges after catching on fire
By Staff report
SIKESTON -- When a Dexter man finally gets out of the hospital, he is likely to face yet another problem: drug charges.
It was about 8:30 p.m. when the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was advised of a call reporting what a witness thought must be the result a traffic accident: a man on fire out in front of Walmart.
"They arrived and found a white male on the southbound side of the road," said Capt. Bill Mygatt of the Sikeston DPS. "This guy was screaming in pain, had some skin hanging."
"Apparently there was a small red car that had an explosion inside, witnesses said, said Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for the Sikeston DPS.
During the investigation, it was learned the cause was "a 'shake-and-bake' meth lab that exploded and caught on fire," McMillen said. "So they kicked him out of the car as he was on fire and left the scene."
One witness at the scene had to be decontaminated as the man who was on fire "was in a panic and gave him a bear hug," Mygatt said.
The burn victim, who is reported to have received second and third degree burns on over 50 percent of his body, was taken by air ambulance first to a Cape Girardeau hospital to be stabilized after which he was slated to be transferred to a burn center in St. Louis, according to Mygatt.
Methamphetamine was recovered by investigators at the scene, according to Mygatt, which reportedly belonged the burned man.
"A witness reported seeing him throw it down," Mygatt said.
Mygatt said DPS is likely to file charges before the man is able to be discharged for his injuries.
Individuals with information about this or any other crime should call DPS at 471-6200 or the Sikeston DPS CrimeStoppers line, 471-1500. All tips can be kept confidential.