Man Accused of Setting Woman Afire : Crime: The victim is listed in critical but stable condition. The ex-boyfriend is arrested near her home shortly after the attack.

A Val Verde man, angry at a woman for breaking up with him, doused her with gasoline and set her afire, then embraced her in a suicide attempt, authorities reported Monday.

Janice Johnson, 30, who was critically burned, was attacked Sunday night only minutes after she had telephoned Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to report that her former boyfriend, Johnny Finney, had threatened to set her house afire, deputies said.

Finney, 38, who received minor burns, was arrested by deputies who found him walking on a street a few blocks from Johnson’s house and was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Becker.

Johnson was airlifted to the burn center at Sherman Oaks Hospital & Health Center, where she was listed in critical but stable condition Monday with burns on her arms, chest and face, said Johna Rogovin, a hospital spokeswoman.

Johnson’s sisters told sheriff’s deputies that she had obtained a temporary restraining order against Finney.

A sheriff’s deputy said Monday that deputies were unable to confirm there was such a court order.

Johnson called sheriff’s deputies shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday to report that Finney had phoned her threatening to burn down her house, deputies said. Just moments after Johnson hung up, Finney arrived at her home in the 29000 block of Cromwell Avenue in this small community just north of Santa Clarita and entered by an unlocked door, deputies said.

Finney poured gasoline on the woman, tossed a cigarette lighter at her, then embraced Johnson and fell on top of her in a failed attempt to die with her, Becker said.

A neighbor who heard Johnson’s screams came over and extinguished the fire. Finney ran from the home, but was arrested about 30 minutes later, Becker said.

Finney was treated for minor burns at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia before being jailed, Becker said.