A drunken man thrown out of the Waihola Tavern spread petrol over eight vehicles in the pub's car-park and set one of them on fire last night in what police say could have been a "disastrous" incident.
The man later tried set the publican alight before being tackled to the ground and arrested. He faces charges including arson and aggravated assault.
Police say only the quick thinking of the publican and a patron prevented a disaster at the pub south of Dunedin.
The 43-year-old Outram man at the centre of the drama was ejected from the tavern about 8.30pm because of extreme intoxication.
Police say he took exception to this and doused vehicles outside the pub with petrol. He then lit the fuel, setting fire to the rear of a Toyota Corona, and left the scene.
Luckily a pub patron saw the fire and told the publican who doused the flames with a fire extinguisher before they could spread. There was minor damage to the Toyota Corona.
"All eight vehicles were parked within 3 metres of the premises and a fire could have spread to the tavern, endangering the 80 patrons present in the tavern and restaurant," Sergeant Martin Bull, of Balclutha Police, said.
The man was caught when he returned to the tavern carrying two petrol cans.
The 61-year-old publican gave chase and the man allegedly tried to douse the publican with petrol and started flicking his lighter.
The publican dodged the petrol and tackled the offender to the ground, holding him there with the help of some fellow patrons and an off-duty police officer until the police arrived.
The 43 year old man is currently in custody and due to appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow. He will be facing charges including arson, aggravated assault and driving with excess breath alcohol.
Sergeant Bull said police wanted to acknowledge the "sterling work from the publican and his associates in preventing what could have turned into a disastrous incident."
