A Butler man accused of igniting a lighter next to the gas tank of a state police vehicle was given a state prison sentence Thursday after pleading guilty to reckless endangerment and evading arrest charges.

Shane A. Everetts, 31, of Butler was sentenced to serve 12 months of 36 months in prison followed by 12 months of probation in a plea agreement in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Police said Everetts was walking on South Main Street in Butler on Sept. 15 when he stopped in front of a police cruiser sitting at a red light at West Cunningham Street.

Police said when the light turned green, Everetts refused to move after being told to by the officer in the cruiser. Police said Everetts said he needed a ride to the hospital.

When the officer agreed to give Everetts a ride, he allegedly ran around the vehicle, opened the gas tank door, pulled out a lighter and ignited the lighter in proximity to the gas tank, police said.

The officer then tried to grab the lighter, but Everetts ran down West Cunningham Street. Police said the officer caught up to Everetts and he continued to resist until more officers arrived to take him into custody.

Police spoke with two witnesses on scene. Both said they observed Everetts before the incident walking around South Main Street in traffic and acting strangely. One witness told police she heard Everetts say “hit me” when he walked in front of the police vehicle.

Everetts was sentenced remotely from Butler County Prison where he is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 6 months to 18 months in prison followed by two consecutive terms of 6 months of probation.