PITTSBURGH — Police said an ex-firefighter who was involved in a standoff last month was arrested Tuesday for spraying his girlfriend in the face with a chemical used for cleaning.
Marc Vrane, 41, is accused of spraying Maxell Blast Away cleaner on his girlfriend after she refused to huff the chemical on Monday.
Channel 11's Renee Kaminski reported that Vrane sprayed the cleaner in the woman's mouth and several times in the face.
"When she refused, he used the solvent to spray it in her face," Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Rashall Brackney said.
Police said the victim ran to Vrane's parents' house for help after the assault. Vrane showed up a short time later and police said he spit on his mom, cracked the windshield of his girlfriend's car and threatened to kill them before taking off in his truck.
Vrane was later arrested.
The victim suffered chemical burns to the face and redness to the throat and chest.
"This is the third incident we've had with him. His underlying issues are mental health. The concern is each encounter is becoming much more violent," Brackney said.
Brackney said Vrane was also involved in a standoff on June 26 after neighbors said he was firing shots into trees.
When police arrived, they said Vrane refused to come out of his Brandon Road house. During the standoff, police said Vrane threatened to hurt himself and officers.
Eventually, police said, they played a recording from his mother that got him to surrender peacefully.
According to Brackney, police officers are on high alert when dealing with Vrane.
"Based on our laws, if he isn't a clear and present danger at that time he will not be held."
When Kaminski asked Brackney why Vrane is not in a mental health facility, he said, "It's a max of 72 hours if during that time frame he becomes lucid."
Vrane remains in jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.
WPXI
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