The woman didn’t require medical attention for the injuries she received during the struggle with the suspect.
A South Kona man is in police custody after allegedly setting himself on fire and attempting to do the same to his ex-girlfriend.
Police initially received a 1:21 a.m. report Tuesday that a man was walking on Tobacco Road in Honaunau with a knife. En route, Kona patrol officers received updates that a house at that location was on fire.
Upon arrival, the officers determined that the suspect, 27-year-old Robert York of Honaunau, had reportedly gone to the home of his ex-girlfriend, poured a flammable liquid on the front porch and lit it on fire.
After the 26-year-old victim escaped from the house by climbing out a window, York reportedly restrained her and poured the flammable liquid onto both her and himself.
The victim’s relatives, who live in another house on the same property, heard the commotion, left their house and pulled the suspect away from the victim. As one of the relatives was fighting the flames on the porch with a garden hose, York allegedly set himself on fire.
Police say the relatives helped the suspect York extinguish the flames. York then allegedly fled on foot.
A short time later, York called 911 and was taken by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital for treatment of burns.
Police found York at the hospital. When he was discharged at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, officers arrested him on suspicion of abuse, terroristic threatening and arson. He is being held at the Kona police cellblock while the investigation continues,
The woman didn’t require medical attention for the injuries she received during the struggle with the suspect.