A Houston couple was awoken on Easter morning by their dog, Ellie, and discovered a man trapped in their chimney. Firefighters dismantled part of the fireplace to free him; he told responders he was "being chased." Authorities identified the suspect as 33-year-old Edwin Leonel Salmeron Granados, arrested at 1:35 a.m. and charged with burglary of a habitation. The couple believe he climbed to their roof and entered the chimney, causing significant damage.
Dog's Bark Leads Houston Couple to Discover Man Stuck in Chimney — Suspect Arrested
Homeowner Curt Mitchell showing where he and his wife found man stuck in their home chimneyCredit: WHOU11/YouTube
Early on Easter Sunday, a Houston couple was startled awake when their dog, Ellie, began barking. What they initially assumed might be an animal in the fireplace turned out to be a man wedged inside their chimney. Firefighters had to dismantle part of the hearth to free him, and police later arrested the suspect.
Details Of The Rescue
Joni Mitchell says she woke at about 12:30 a.m. on April 5 after Ellie started barking at unusual noises. After hearing muffled groans from the hearth, she roused her husband, Curt. Curt briefly suspected an animal—"Maybe a raccoon or something got in"—but when he opened the flue he found a panicked man inside the chimney.
A chimney (stock image)Credit: Getty
"When they broke it in, the front fell off, and there was his face and his shoulders," Curt recalled of the moment firefighters exposed the trapped man.
Fire crews dismantled part of the fireplace to remove the individual, who told responders he "was being chased and was trying to get away from something." The Harris County District Attorney’s Office later identified the man as 33-year-old Edwin Leonel Salmeron Granados. The Houston Police Department arrested him at 1:35 a.m., and court records state he faces a charge of burglary of a habitation. His next court date was listed as April 10.
How He Might Have Entered
The Mitchells believe the suspect climbed a fence to access their roof and attempted to descend the chimney, becoming stuck during the attempt. Firefighters’ efforts to free him damaged the fireplace and surrounding structure; the couple expressed concern about repair costs.
Authorities handled the rescue and arrest, and the suspect's claim that he was being chased remains part of the ongoing case record held by Harris County officials.
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