A man accused of trying to set a police officer on fire during his arrest has been referred for a mental health assessment.
ACT Policing in a statement said officers were called to a Tuggeranong residence following reports of a disturbance about 8pm on Tuesday.
Upon arrival, police were advised a man had allegedly assaulted his ex-partner, had entered the residence by breaking a window, and had threatened to set the residence on fire.
The man was found at the rear of the property in a shed where he had allegedly set fire to a freezer after pouring petrol on it.
As the man was removed from the shed, police allege he poured petrol on an officer while also trying to ignite the fuel with a lighter and violently resisted arrest.
He was eventually placed in handcuffs after officers used capsicum spray.
The freezer fire was extinguished with a garden hose by a family member.
The man, 43, was taken to hospital for assessment, and charged with aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated assault, property damage, assaulting a frontline community service provider, committing acts endangering life, use of an inflammable device, and resisting a territory official.
He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday when he did not enter pleas and was sent for a mental health assessment.
