Man Gets Hopelessly Stuck in Chimney While Fleeing from Police: 'He Went Down Like Santa Claus'

Robert Langlais' attempts to channel Santa didn't go to plan while he was running from police on Tuesday, Dec. 10

A Massachusetts man needed a Christmas miracle to save him after he got stuck in a chimney while fleeing from police.

On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 10, detectives of the Community Action & Suppression Team (CAST) "executed a search warrant for 127 Canal Street," the City of Fall River Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Authorities explained that "two males fled from the residence via rooftop," before one of the men — later identified as Robert Langlais, 33 — "invoked the essence of the seasonal icon [Santa Claus] and attempted to hide inside of a chimney," the Facebook post added.

"Langlais quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing from," police continued. 

"With the help of the Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Emergency Medical Services, Langlais was rescued and taken into custody. Due to his Santa-antics, Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared," they continued.

In the post, police said that the other suspect "eluded capture by bounding from the roof and onto a parked vehicle."

Police released bodycam footage of the incident on Facebook, with one officer saying in the clip, "He's on the roof!" adding, "Hey! Get down here... show your hands or I'm gonna come up there and grab you."

"Are you stuck?" an officer then said after locating Langlais in the chimney after being tipped off by a member of the public.

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Langlais was rescued before being "formally arrested for Possession of Class A drugs, Possession of Class B drugs and a slew of charges from outstanding warrants," police said in the Facebook post. 

"Also present and arrested, with less theatrics, was Tanisha Ibay (age 32) for the charges of Possession of Class A drugs and Possession of Class B drugs," police concluded.

Neighbor Jim Medeiros said of the ordeal, “He went down like Santa Claus,” per WJAR.

“I thought, ‘Oh boy, he’s going to get stuck in there for sure,’ ” Medeiros added, according to the outlet.

The City of Fall River Police Department didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.