Crime & Safety

Suspected Burglar Catches The Flue

Firefighters extricate 18-year-old Dean Lachappelle from chimney after flight from New London Police gets him trapped inside Home Street residence

Police said an 18-year-old burglary suspect got stuck in a chimney—and stuck with another burglary charge—when fleeing officers on Thursday evening.

Lt. Todd Bergeson said Dean Lachappelle was leaving the Southeastern Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency on Coit Street when officers tried to serve a felony arrest warrant for third-degree burglary on him. Bergeson said Lachappelle fled on foot and entered an occupied apartment at 14 Home Street before climbing to the roof and trying to escape police by climbing down the chimney.

At that point, Lachappelle became wedged feet-first in the chimney. Officers searching the building with the K-9 Jasper heard him screaming and brought in the fire department.

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“We received a call that there was a person in the chimney, and when we got here we found he was 20 to 25 feet down from the roof,” said Battalion Chief Keith Nichols of the New London Fire Department.

Nichols said firefighters extricated Lachappelle after breaching a side of the chimney on the third floor. He said the department had to make sure that Lachappelle had enough oxygen and that the chimney remained structurally sound during the rescue. The chimney is connected to a boiler and hot water heater, both of which were shut off by firefighters.

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The Waterford Fire Department was also contacted to assist with the rescue, since they have a specialized unit with a hammer drill.

A small group of people gathered on the street to witness the rescue. Michael Bland said he spotted the lights on Home Street from his Franklin Street residence. He called his friend, Kevin Smith, and found out what had happened.

“We haven’t had any excitement around here like this,” said Bland. “Never anybody climbing chimneys that I know.”

Smith said he also walked to the scene when he saw the lights from police cars and was surprised to find out what had happened.

“I was just amazed,” he said. “How’d he get up there?”

One woman watching the excitement muttered, “New London’s dumbest criminals…”

Lachappelle was taken to for minor injuries. Bergeson said he will be charged with second-degree burglary and interfering with police and that other charges may be added at a later date. Lachappelle also has charges pending from the Coventry Police Department, and his bond has been set at $75,000.

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