Man arrested after climbing into ceiling at Texas hospital to escape police

A 36-year-old man was arrested Friday morning at CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan, Texas, after police say he attempted to set a motel room on fire and then tried to escape once at the hospital by climbing into the ceiling and kicking through walls, according to The Eagle.

Andrew Vincent Guedea's room at the Relax Inn in Bryan caught fire Friday morning. He was charged with arson for allegedly setting the fire, but before being taken into custody Mr. Guedea was sent to CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. 

While he was in the emergency department, hospital staff called for police assistance because Mr. Guedea was refusing treatment. Before police arrived, Mr. Guedea disappeared. However, officers quickly realized he had climbed into a ceiling shaft, as they could see the ceiling sink under his weight, according to the report.

Authorities say Mr. Guedea crawled around in the ceiling before dropping into a space in the wall near the ED and kicking through the wall. When he saw police, he allegedly went back into the space between the walls. He was arrested after kicking through another wall in a different area of the facility.

Mr. Guedea is charged with arson, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and criminal trespass.

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