A 33-year-old man, Robert Langlais, is in custody after a bizarre incident in Fall River, Massachusetts. On Tuesday evening, the police executed a search warrant at 127 Canal Street, prompting Langlais to attempt a rooftop escape, USA Today reported. However, he became stuck in a chimney. Bodycam footage from the Fall River Police Department shows detectives discovering Langlais and calling for assistance from the fire department to rescue him.

“You’re an idiot,” an officer can be heard saying as they shined a torch on the trapped man. “Show us your hands.” The fire department and Emergency Medical Services broke the chimney to free Langlais, who was then taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

“On the evening of December 10, 2024, Detectives of the Community Action & Suppression Team (CAST) executed a search warrant for 127 Canal Street. During the search warrant application, two males fled from the residence via rooftop,” police said in a statement released on Wednesday regarding the incident.

“During the application of said search warrant, two males fled from the residence via rooftop. One male eluded capture by bounding from the roof and onto 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 a chimney. Langlais quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing from. Due to his Santa-antics, Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared,” the statement added.

He has since been arrested and charged with multiple offences including outstanding warrants and possession of drugs. 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. 

Meanwhile, the Facebook post went viral, prompting several amused reactions from the public. One user said, “So this is the whole story about the “chimney sweeper” that made the 6 o’clock news all the way down here in Florida.” Another commented, “Perfection! Whoever wrote this deserves a seat at my table, humour is ALWAYS appreciated!”

A couple in the United States defrauded the government of nearly $500,000 (approximately Rs 4.2 Crore) to take dozens of lavish vacations to Walt Disney World while claiming they were travelling for work. According to the New York Post, 61-year-old Thomas Bouchard, who is an Army contractor, used his government connections to get his girlfriend, 53-year-old Cantelle Boyd, hired for a “no-show” job as his assistant so they could take numerous vacations, including 31 trips to Walt Disney World in Flordia. Their elaborate scheme cost the Department of Defence more than $490,000, prosecutors said. 

Citing the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Post reported that the couple claimed that they were travelling for work. Mr Bouchard, who was in charge of the US Army Natick Contracting Division in Massachusetts, reportedly used his “long-standing relationship with government contractor Evolution Enterprise Inc., to have Ms Boyd hired as an assistant to support him. She was paid a government salary of $487,658 and performed “little if any useful function” from 2014 to 2018, costing the government an extra $75,583 in travel expenses, prosecutors said. 

The couple reportedly booked vacations ranging from two to 15 days, and their travels – which were done during business hours – included staying a hotels, lounging by the pool and visiting Disney parks. In addition to this, the couple also travelled to Virginia and other Florida locations. Prosecutors said that the 61-year-old concealed the nature of their trips and sought reimbursement by falsifying and then approving expense records. 

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Federal authorities arrested the couple in July 2020. They each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government funds and false declarations. The 61-year-old was sentenced in August to one year and one day in prison and is required to pay $487,658 in restitution.

“Those of us who are privileged to work in public service owe a duty to the taxpayers to act with integrity at all times,” said Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy. 

“This defendant clearly failed in adhering to this solemn oath and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets, hire a friend into a phantom position and enjoy junkets all on the taxpayer’s dime. He will now pay the price for his inexcusable conduct,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Ms Boyd was sentenced to six months of home confinement on October 2. Prosecutors said she is required to pay restitution “at a later date”.