'You're an idiot': Massachusetts man gets stuck Santa-style in chimney running from police
A Massachusetts man got stuck in a chimney Tuesday night fleeing from police as they tried to execute a search warrant, and the rescue was captured on police body cameras.
The ordeal happened in Fall River, about 66 miles south of Boston.
The Fall City Police Department’s Community Action & Suppression Team was executing a search warrant when 33-year-old Robert Langlais and another suspect fled on the roof, police said in a news release.
The footage began with an officer peeking inside a home, then yelling to his fellow officers that at least one of the suspects was on the roof.
Watch man get stuck in chimney trying to run from police
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Santa-like escape route attempted
One suspect jumped from the roof to a parked vehicle, while Langlais “invoked the essence of the seasonal icon and attempted to hide inside of a chimney,” police wrote.
It was a passerby who pointed out that Langlais had taken a page out of Old Saint Nick’s book, video footage showed.
"I was walking my dog a little while ago,” the man told police. “I heard some screaming. I looked up and … he went down the chimney."
The officer then relayed the news to other officers and went to check the chimney situation out.
‘You’re an idiot’
The officers went through a window in the house, climbed up to the top of the roof and once they peered into the chimney, they found their guy.
"You're an idiot," one officer said as they shined a flashlight on the trapped man. "Show us your hands.”
Bodycam footage showed Langlais wedged inside the chimney with his left forearm slightly above his head. The officers made sure he could breathe as they waited for the Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Emergency Medical Services to show up.
'I can fit': Suspect gives police instructions on how to rescue him
As firefighters chipped away at the bricks encasing him, Langlais gave them information to make the rescue a little easier.
“I can fit,” he said. “I’m 109 pounds.”
They then pulled him to safety, causing him to yell and say his leg bent a bit.
“Due to his Santa-antics, Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared,” police said, adding that he was arrested for possession of Class A drugs, Class B drugs and multiple charges from outstanding warrants.
The other suspect, 32-year-old Tanisha Ibay, was charged with possession of Class A drugs and possession of Class B drugs, police said.
Social media users seemed to get a kick out of the police’s retelling of the tale.
“Perfection,” wrote one Facebook user. “Whoever wrote this deserves a seat at my table, humour is ALWAYS appreciated!”
This story has been updated to add a video.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Massachusetts man gets stuck in chimney running from police: Watch
