Man who sets fire to himself on I-86 traffic stop charged as fugitive

The man who set himself and his car on fire Friday during a traffic stop on Interstate 81 in the Village of Horseheads was charged as a fugitive once he arrived at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Darren R. Desruisseaux, 31, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was scheduled to be arraigned on the criminal charge at the hospital, Rochester City Court Judge Melchor Castro said, but Desruisseaux's condition and injuries made the arraignment impossible.

Castro said Desruisseaux, who remained in guarded condition on Saturday morning, may be arraigned next week, depending on his condition.

Desruisseaux was taken into custody by the Chemung County Sheriff's Office on Friday and taken to Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira before being transferred by helicopter to Strong with burn injuries, according to the sheriff's office.

A warrant issued May 29 from Exton, Pennsylvania, stated Desruisseaux was wanted for criminal attempt/criminal homicide, Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss said.

A representative of Uwchlan Township Police, who cover portions of Exton, said Friday the department had no press release to issue regarding Desruisseaux and made no comment about his arrest or the nature of the warrant against him.

Deputy Sheriff Andrew Cloke stopped Desruisseaux for speeding around 5 a.m. Friday in the westbound lanes of I-86 in the Village of Horseheads, according to a news release. The deputy secured the operator's license and was advised by the communication center that the driver of the vehicle, Desruisseaux, was wanted for attempted homicide in Pennsylvania.

Shortly after the Horseheads Village Police Department responded to assist, Desruisseaux locked himself inside the vehicle and set himself on fire with a can of gasoline he was storing in the rear of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies extinguished the fire and pulled Desruisseaux from the vehicle. None of the responders were injured, Moss said.

The westbound lane of I-86, in the Village of Horseheads, was closed for approximately 90 minutes.

The sheriff's office was assisted by the Horseheads Village Police Department, New York State Police, Elmira Heights Police Department and the Horseheads Village Fire Department.

An investigation is continuing to determine whether there will be local charges, Moss said.

Desruisseaux was arrested by Chemung County deputies in 2005 for driving while intoxicated, Moss said.

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