FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) – A man is facing charges after attempting to evade detectives in Massachusetts by hiding in a chimney — and becoming stuck there — on Tuesday night.
The detectives were executing a search warrant at a house in Fall River when two men reportedly fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The Fall River Police Department said one man managed to escape by leaping from the roof onto a parked car, but the other, 33-year-old Robert Langlais, wound up wedged in a chimney.
In a message included with bodycam footage, the police said Langlais "invoked the essence" of Santa when seeking a place to hide.
"Langlais quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was fleeing from," they wrote.
Bodycam footage shows officers being tipped off to Langlais' whereabouts by a nearby resident who said the suspect "went down" a chimney. They then climb onto the roof to find the suspect stuck halfway down the chimney.
"You're an idiot," one of the officers immediately says to the suspect.
Fall River Police Lt. Matthew Mendes told Nexstar's WPRI that firefighters had to break the chimney to free Langlais. Bodycam footage shows firefighters disassembling the chimney brick by brick before pulling Langlais to safety.
Langlais was brought to the hospital for evaluation "due to his Santa antics," according to police. He's since been charged with drug possession, as well as several offenses tied to outstanding warrants.
Police confirmed they arrested another person at the scene, albeit with "less theatrics," they said.
