Westminster: Man Tries To Light Victim On Fire After Making Racist Comment, Flees In Stolen Vehicle Before Arrest

Getty Images File Photo
File Photo by Getty Images

09.21.2022 | 8:00 PM | WESTMINSTER – A man who made a racist comment before trying to light a victim on fire was arrested after fleeing police in a stolen vehicle Wednesday morning, police said.

The incident began to unfold when officers responded to an assault investigation involving near McFadden Avenue and Oakcliff Drive around 11:45 AM.

That assault involved a suspect, later identified as Danh Thanh Nguyen, 36, of Westminster, who approached a victim sitting in a vehicle and made a derogatory comment about Hispanics before throwing a cup of gasoline on the victim, police learned.

Nguyen then tried to ignite the gasoline using a lighter but the victim fled in their vehicle.

Officers located Nguyen near the intersection of Bushard Street and Westminster and attempted to stop him.

Nguyen, who was in a vehicle he was not authorized to have, fled from officers prompting a short pursuit that ended with a crash into planter wall just moments later near the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Hazard Avenue.

Nguyen was subsequently arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail on charges of attempted murder, attempted arson, and civil rights violations.

The victim did not know Nguyen prior to the incident and did not sustain any injuries from the gasoline.

Miles Madison

Miles started reporting breaking news in 2015 and has been providing high-quality news video and timely reports from the Orange County area ever since. Combining his experience as a seasoned photojournalist, radio operator and sleuth, Miles provides unrivaled multimedia news reports.