Burglar Trapped in Coffee Shop Wall for 10 Hours Rescued and Arrested

A man became lodged inside the wall of a Northern California coffee shop on Monday and remained trapped for about 10 hours before police officers located and freed him. Employees at the shop initially dismissed calls for help coming from inside the wall.

Officers from the Salinas Police Department who were inside the shop heard knocking and responded by knocking back on the wall. The officers contacted the Salinas Fire Department, which cut through the wall and a layer of cinderblock and cement to free the man.

The 29-year-old, identified as Isaac Valencia, was medically evaluated at the scene.

Police said Valencia had slipped from the roof of a nearby cinema on Sunday night and slid approximately 22 feet into the space between the cinema and the coffee shop. He estimated he had been stuck for around 10 hours. Valencia was arrested on a burglary charge and booked into the Monterey County Jail.

His bail was set at $10,000. The police department posted on social media that the officers trusted their instincts and remained persistent even while ending a graveyard shift. Officials noted the incident ended with everyone going home safely.