Alleged burglary suspect gets stuck in Springfield restaurant's vent

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A bizarre attempt to break into a recently closed restaurant in downtown Springfield took a strange twist when the suspect became stuck in a kitchen ventilation shaft.

Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney told 22News the suspect, identified as 26 year-old Robert Kuhn of Springfield, attempted to climb through a vent on the roof of Lido Ristorante Wednesday night, but he didn't make it very far. The suspect only made it slightly into the vent before he got stuck.

The closed restaurant's owner, Don Cerasa, who lives above Lido, looked out his window and found the ventilation fan pushed aside, and Kuhn stuck in the vent.

Delaney says police found Kuhn inside the vent covered in grease and soot and wearing only his underwear. He told police "I'm stuck."

The fire department, headquartered right next door, was called in to help free Kuhn from the vent. He was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony.

Cerasa told 22News the suspect is a former restaurant employee.

The restaurant closed this past weekend after 62 years in business. It's owners pointed to a tough economy as one reason they've become part of the cities restaurant history.