Police, firefighters rescue man attempting suicide

Eric Leake

Monday, March 28, 2005 | 11:12 a.m.

A liquor-store clerk was booked this morning on a charge of first-degree arson after officials said he locked himself inside his work place and set bottles of alcohol ablaze in an apparent suicide attempt Sunday afternoon.

Metro Police and Clark County firefighters were able to rescue 23-year-old Christopher Thomas White and nobody else was hurt in what co-workers and rescue personnel said was a bizarre and troubling event at the St. Tropez Liquor store on Paradise Road at Harmon Avenue.

"The guy had taken a bunch of liquor and thrown it on the floor. He was standing in flames," Metro Sgt. Tom Jenkins said.

Allegedly, after setting the fire White locked himself in a bathroom where he cut his wrist with a razor blade while rescuers battled the flames.

Jenkins said police could hear him screaming but could not help him until he decided to come out.

"He came busting right out through the flames," Jenkins said. "I think human nature is to survive. Burning to death isn't easy to do. Your body responds and you run out."

Paramedics treated White for his cuts and he was taken to a hospital. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center this morning and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning.

Chris White had been working at the store a couple of months, co-workers said.

After the fire, co-workers huddled in the parking lot outside the store. They were thankful nobody died and wondered exactly what had happened.

Wendel Chambliss, who also clerks at the liquor store, said White was normally cheerful and would show off his bottle juggling skills. But for the past week he had been acting odd, Chambliss said.

Chambliss arrived at work Sunday to find the door locked, and he ran to the adjoining convenience store that is separated from the liquor store by a window covered with wood lattice.

"I saw the flames through the front door. I came inside and went through the lattice, but I couldn't do anything because he ran into the bathroom," Chambliss said.

"I was going to get him out," Chambliss said. "But it was too hot."

Supervisor Kathy Yamin said she knew something was wrong with White when she arrived at work. Then she smelled smoke from the convenience store side and called 911 about 5 p.m.

"We smelled smoke and looked up. There were flames and he was standing in them," Yamin said.

Fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said fighting the alcohol-based fire was tricky because it was resistant to water. He said alcohol and flames were spilling out under the door when firefighters arrived and that they were not sure what the man inside might do.

Leinbach said damages to the store are estimated at $3,000 not counting merchandise. Investigators were working to determine how the man allegedly started the fire.

The event drew curious bystanders and the police response was caught on film by a crew from the television show "Cops."

Rick John works in the neighboring Subway sandwich shop. He said at first did not believe anybody was inside the fire.

"They're telling this guy to come out and the store is blazing fire," John said. "They wouldn't have to tell me to come out."

He had watched firefighters work the blaze from the sidewalk and saw White eventually escape.

"I didn't think anybody was in there," John said. "I didn't believe it till I saw police drag the guy out."