A 44-year-old East Victoria Park man has been charged following an incident at a two storey housing complex on Hubert St in East Victoria Park yesterday.
At around 5.20pm, the male victim went to investigate smoke coming from his neighbouring unit.
Outside the burning unit, the victim had to retreat and call police after the suspect allegedly attempted to assault him and threaten him with a knife.
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READ NOWWhen two police officers arrived at the scene, they entered the suspect’s smoke-filled unit but he allegedly resisted assistance and was dragged struggling outside to safety, before he was taken by St John Ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, other police units, together with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) evacuated other residents from the complex.
DFES were able to contain the fire to the suspect’s unit without further external damage.
Both officers involved in the rescue suffered smoke inhalation and were also treated at RPH.
The 44-year-old man has been charge with causing criminal damage by fire, being armed in a way that may cause fear and common assault.
He is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court today.
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