Newark NJ Man Sets Himself On Fire Due to Debt Collector Calls
A Newark man frustrated with the volume of late payment notices and collection calls he received from a Bloomfield Rent-A-Center store, walked into the business Tuesday and set himself ablaze in front of several employees and customers.
“He basically pulled out a bottle of lighter fluid, poured it all over his body, pulled out a cigarette lighter and lit himself on fire,” Bloomfield Police Capt. Chris Goul said.
Employees rushed to get water to extinguish the blaze. The 62-year-old man, Emilio Saladriagas, was taken to the burn unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center for treatment.
Saladriagas was listed in critical condition late Tuesday, said hospital spokesman Sally Malech.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. when emergency officials were notified of a fire at the Bloomfield Avenue store, which allows customers to rent furniture, electronics and other goods with the option of buying them.
Saladriagas arrived at the store and asked to speak with a manager about a series of form letters he’d received about late payments on his furniture rentals, Goul said. When he was told a manager wasn’t available he became upset and pulled out the lighter fluid.
“We don’t know if he had mental health issues or what sparked it,” he said. “Employees said he’d always been a nice man.”
Bloomfield authorities and the Essex County Arson Squad reviewed the store’s surveillance tape and because Saladriagas didn’t make “overt or criminal” actions to harm anyone but himself, he hasn’t been charged with a crime, Goul said.
The store remained open Tuesday night. Crisis teams were sent to the store to counsel agitated employees, said Rent-A-Center spokesman Dwight Dumler.
The company is “concerned about the gentleman,” said Dumler.
The company, based in Plano, Texas, has about 3,500 stores nationwide and about 50 in New Jersey, according to its website.
Article by Casi Addison NJ.com – New Jersey Ledger
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