Police: Man Tried To Set Ex-Girlfriend On Fire

FERNDALE (WWJ) - Authorities are searching for 40-year-old Jermaine Thomas, who disappeared after police say he tried to kill his ex-girlfriend.

Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson said the victim was in her 9 Mile Road apartment building when Thomas came out of the laundry room and doused her with gasoline — and then approached her with a lighter.

She was able to get away and drive to the police department.

"Under these circumstances, she did do the intelligent thing, especially being soaked with gasoline and him having a lighter," Wilson told WWJ's Zahra Huber. "Her attempting to stick around and deal with the situation any other way that than would be nothing but dangerous for her and most likely life-threatening."

Thomas was recently paroled for a previous assault on the same woman, with whom he has three children.  An arrest warrant has been issued on an attempted murder charge in this case.

"We're looking for any help we can get from the public as to telling us of his whereabouts," said Wilson "I mean he's obviously a very dangerous person and we'd like to get him off the streets as soon as possible."

Anyone with information about  Thomas' whereabouts is asked to call Ferndale Police at 248-541-3650 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP. A $1,000 reward is being offered for tips leading to an arrest in the case.