Man Stuck In DeKalb Little Caesars' Vent, Saved By Fire Rescue Crew

LITHONIA, GA — The DeKalb County Fire Department rescued a man Tuesday morning who was trapped inside of an oven vent.

According to DeKalb fire spokesman Capt. Jaeson Daniels, the Rescue team was called around 8 a.m. to a Little Caesars in a strip mall at 6746 Covington Highway in Lithonia after two people heard someone screaming, but couldn’t find them.

“A U.S. Army recruiter showed up to work at the strip center, heard someone scream for help, and thought noise was coming from the top of the building, but couldn't see anyone,” Daniels said. “They went to the front, and saw a Little Caesars' employee looking too. The employee said they heard the noise inside louder.”

When the rescue crew arrived they found a man stuck in the restaurant’s oven vent, Daniels said.

“He had made it down to the oven, and was in the building,” he said.

The fire department had to use several tools to gain access to the pipe. They had to carefully cut it open without harming the man, Daniels said.

“We got him out with minor injuries,” he said. “He had some friction burns from sliding down the pipe, a little dehydrated. Not sure if he was trying to rob [Little Caesars], or wanted to make his own pizza, not sure what his plan was.”

Daniels said he didn't know how long the man had been trapped inside.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the man was taken to a hospital and the business was closed for the day.

Police spokeswoman Officer Elise Wells told the AJC that they don’t have any information on why he was inside the vent, but the investigation is ongoing.