A Massachusetts man found himself in a sticky situation on Tuesday night when he attempted to evade police by getting stuck inside a chimney. The bizarre incident unfolded in Fall River as officers from the local police department tried to conduct a raid at the man’s home on Canal Street.
According to reports, as the police knocked on the front door, two men were seen fleeing the house via the roof. While one of them jumped off the roof, the other, identified as Robert Langlias, decided to take a different route and climbed down the chimney in an attempt to hide from the authorities, reminiscent of a certain jolly old man in a red suit.
However, Langlias soon realized that his escape plan was not as foolproof as he had hoped. The police statement revealed that he quickly became stuck in the chimney and had to call for help. Bodycam footage shared by the police department captured the moment when officers found Langlias wedged inside the flue, unable to move.
In the video, an officer can be heard calling Langlias an “idiot” for his predicament while reassuring him that help was on the way. Firefighters were called in to dismantle the chimney brick-by-brick from inside the house to free the trapped man.
After being rescued, Langlias was taken to a local hospital for precautionary measures and was later cleared medically. He now faces charges for possession of Class A and Class B drugs, as well as other offenses related to outstanding warrants.
Meanwhile, another individual, Tanisha Ibay, was arrested at the scene and is also facing drug possession charges in connection with the incident. The second man who fled from the roof remains at large.
The comical yet dangerous escapade serves as a reminder that attempting to emulate Santa Claus by going down the chimney is not a wise choice, especially when trying to evade the law. Langlias may have gotten himself into a tight spot, but his misadventure will surely be remembered as a cautionary tale in the small town of Fall River.
