A walk-in at a Southern California hospital believed to be high on drugs climbed up into the hospital ceiling and got himself stuck — causing thousands of dollars worth of damages, according to police and officials.
The intoxicated man walked into the emergency room bathroom at the San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland Monday night, broke through some ceiling tiles and pulled himself up into the ceiling.
Once police arrived shortly after 9 pm. they “confirmed on surveillance footage that the subject was seen going into the restroom and never coming out,” the Upland Police Department said on Tuesday.
Cops initially couldn’t see the man, who did not answer when police yelled if anyone was there.
“Due to the extremely confined space, maze of wires, plumbing, HVAC lines, etc., officers had to use a pole camera to look into the ceiling,” police said.
Within moments, police discovered the man wedged between a large HVAC unit and a steel beam “in complete darkness.”
After police called him out by name, he admitted he was stuck and couldn’t get out.
Firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire responded and worked for nearly an hour to free the man, who has not been identified by authorities.
Video released by Upland police shows responders propping themselves up on a ladder and poking their heads inside the ceiling looking for the man, as the “Scooby Doo” theme song plays cheekily in the background.
Later, the man can be seen lying on his back in the tight space flailing his arms and legs as responders try and direct him out.
The clip then cuts to an officer grabbing the man’s feet sticking out from the ceiling and putting them on his shoulder to slowly guide him down.
Officials said he caused more than $5,000 in damages to the ceiling electrical and HVAC systems.
The man was arrested and charged with felony vandalism.
He was taken to the county jail where police “pointed out the concrete ceilings” lest he planned another adventure.
Emergency room services continued uninterrupted through the strange ordeal, cops said.