A Missouri man is behind bars after allegedly turning a common safety tool into a makeshift weapon. Christopher M. Viehland, 32, faces charges of burglary, assault, and domestic assault following a June 13 incident involving what police describe as a homemade flamethrower.
According to a probable cause statement from the Franklin County Police Department obtained by KTVI, Viehland allegedly targeted his ex-girlfriend and another man. The device used in the assault was fashioned from a fire extinguisher and a flashlight, with the words “flame thrower” written on the outside.
Investigators noted that a metal pipe had been taped to the extinguisher’s hose and stuffed with a rag. While police believe the device was roughly a quarter full of gasoline at the time of the incident, they have not yet confirmed if it was fully functional.
During the encounter, Viehland allegedly sprayed gasoline onto his ex-girlfriend and struck the male victim with a flashlight. A physical struggle ensued between Viehland and the male victim, during which the victim suffered bite wounds to his stomach.
The altercation gave Viehland’s ex-girlfriend an opportunity to escape. She fled to a nearby business and called the authorities. By the time officers arrived at the scene, Viehland had fled, leaving the makeshift device behind.
KMOV reported that police tracked down and arrested Viehland later that same day. Upon his arrest, Viehland denied any involvement in the incident. Court records indicate that Viehland has a prior criminal history, which includes previous domestic assault charges.
Viehland is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing on June 22. Local reports indicate that additional charges could be filed against Viehland if testing proves the modified fire extinguisher could actually function as a working flamethrower.
READ: FBI: New Arrests In Washington And Missouri Expand White House UFC Attack Probe
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
