A 54-year-old Chatham man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to prevent emergency personnel from entering his apartment to put out a fire.
Around 2:30am, crews were called to an apartment complex fire on Timmins Cres in Chatham-Kent.
Smoke was seen coming out from under the apartment door.
The tenant prevented emergency personnel from entering, so the jaws of life were used to pry open the door.
When officers entered, the man poured bleach on them and he also slapped an officer in the face and grabbed the second officer in the groin.
The man refused to co-operate with police and fire crews. He was pepper-sprayed so the fire on the stove could be extinguished before it intensified.
He is facing a charge of mischief endangering life and two counts of assaulting a peace officer.
He's been transported to the hospital for a medical assessment.