Police bodycam shows suspect’s ‘Santa antics’ leading to chimney rescue

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 alright. 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.