Suspect channels Saint Nick, leaps into chimney to evade authorities, gets stuck: police
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WKRC) — A man found himself stuck in a chimney after allegedly jumping inside to evade authorities.
According to a statement posted to Facebook by the City of Fall River Police Department on Wednesday, 33-year-old Robert Langlais was taken into custody after responding firefighters rescued him from a chimney.
Authorities said a search warrant was executed at a residence in Fall River, Massachusetts Tuesday, which resulted in two males fleeing the home via the rooftop. Police wrote that one of the males "eluded captured by bounding from the roof and onto a parked vehicle."
The other man, identified by police as Langlais, "invoked the essence of the seasonal icon and attempted to hide inside of a chimney." Langlais became stuck, however, and "required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing from."
Rescuers with the Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and were able to get Langlais out of the chimney and he was taken into custody.
"Due to his Santa-antics, Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared," authorities wrote.
According to police, he was arrested on the following charges:
- Possession of Class A drugs
- Possession of Class B drugs
- Other charges from outstanding warrants
Police added that 32-year-old Tanisha Ibay was also present and arrested, "with less theatrics," for charges of possession of Class A drugs and possession of Class B drugs.
According to The New York Post, bodycam video shows the moment responding officers confronted Langlais.
'You're an idiot," one officer is heard telling the stuck suspect.
“Get me out of here, bro!” Langlais is heard responding.
In the video obtained by The Post, firefighters are seen taking the chimney apart brick-by-brick from inside the house.
According to the publication, the other male suspect involved in the incident remains at large.
