Newport Beach : Burglary Suspect Stuck in Vent Is Arrested
An armed burglary suspect was arrested early Sunday when he became stuck in a ceiling vent at a Newport Beach market, police said.
Thomas Keith Shannon, 25, of Costa Mesa suffered “abrasions from being stuck” but was otherwise unhurt when paramedics freed him from the vent at the Minute King Market at 1526 Placentia Ave., Newport Beach Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said.
Gonis described Shannon as “6 foot, 150 (pounds), but bigger than the vent.”
Police Officer Frank Gordon, the first to respond to an alarm at the market, saw that a roof vent cover had been pried off and heard footsteps inside the building, Gonis said.
“Officers made several attempts to get the suspect to surrender,” Gonis said. “When these attempts failed, a police dog was sent in.”
When officers followed the dog inside, they found Shannon stuck in the ceiling.
Although the suspect was armed with a handgun, “because he was stuck in the vent, he couldn’t use it,” Gonis said. “Officers were able to disarm the suspect and . . . paramedics removed him from the vent.”
Shannon was arrested on suspicion of burglary and booked at the Newport Beach City Jail where bail was set at $10,000, Gonis said.
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