Mental competency of man arrested in lighter-fluid attack to be evaluated

The mental competency of a man charged with dousing three people with lighter fluid in downtown Seattle will be evaluated while he is in custody at the King County Jail, a judge ruled this morning.

King County Superior Court Judge Helen Halpert ordered the evaluation, which will determine whether Paul Pearson understands the charges against him and can aid in his defense, at Pearson's first appearance today.

Pearson, a 50-year-old man whose last known address was a mental-health clinic downtown, is charged with two counts of first-degree assault for allegedly throwing lighter fluid on Gus Jones, Kristen McKie and Vicki Buckley on Jan. 31in downtown Seattle. Buckley's hair and the clothing of both women were singed, according to court documents.

Jones, 82, was doused with lighter fluid but he fought Pearson off with his cane and was not set on fire, court documents said.

Jones was recognized as a good Samaritan at a Seattle Police Officers' Guild ceremony this afternoon where he was presented with a new cane to replace the one he damaged when he struck Pearson.

According to court records, mental illness has plagued Pearson for decades. Pearson, who appeared unkempt and disheveled at his court hearing, has been appeared in King County Mental Health Court numerous times after a series of arrests for petty crimes.