Trending Topics

‘Santa antics': Mass. man fleeing from detectives rescued by firefighters after trying to hide in chimney

Fall River police arrested the man on multiple charges after he was removed from his “seasonal bind” and medically cleared

By Brian Niemietz
New York Daily News

FALL RIVER, Mass. — A Massachusetts man fleeing police became stuck inside a chimney, requiring firefighters to assist in his arrest due to his “Santa antics.”

The City of Fall River Police Department released bodycam video Wednesday of a man who found himself in a seasonal bind after he and another man tried hiding on a roof when detectives with a warrant came to visit.

One of the men, identified as 32-year-old Tanisha Ibay, attempted to evade arrest by jumping off the roof and landing on a parked vehicle.

“The other male, later identified as Robert Langlais (age 33), invoked the essence of the seasonal icon and attempted to hide inside of a chimney,” Fall River Police wrote on Facebook. “Langlais quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing from.”

Cops called in personnel from the Fall River Fire Department and emergency medical services to aid in the Tuesday night extraction.

First responders can be seen in the video asking the trapped suspect if he can breathe all right. Meanwhile, firefighters inside the home remove bricks from the chimney so the man can be removed horizontally from within the house.

“Due to his Santa-antics, Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared,” authorities said.

Langlais was arrested and charged with drug possession and “a slew of charges from outstanding warrants.” Ibay was also arrested, though “with less theatrics,” and hit with similar drug charges.

©2024 New York Daily News.
Visit nydailynews.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
Former Jonesboro Officer Joseph Tucker Harris was arrested on charges of felony charges of aggravated assault, filing a false report and misdemeanor third-degree battery
After shooting a person from behind, the suspect got into a vehicle and led officers on a pursuit; when the car was disabled, he opened the door and pointed a gun at officers
Auburn Police Officer Jeffrey Nelson said the man was grabbing for his gun; jurors determined that video showed he was on the ground and looking away when the shots were fired
The Capitol Police ordered a full review of this incident as well as “mandatory refresher training on security screening, so this never happens again,” the department stated