Suspect Arrested After Crawling Through Vancouver Mall Ceiling for Over an Hour
Police in Vancouver arrested a suspect named Gabriel Hideo after he crawled through a department store ceiling for over an hour, causing extensive property damage before falling onto a mattress.
A strange incident occurred on September 30 at the Vancouver Mall, where police arrested a suspect who broke into the ceiling of a department store and wandered through the ventilation and piping systems for over an hour.
The Incident at the Mall
According to the Vancouver Police Department, employees at a local department store reported a man crawling inside the ceiling space and causing extensive damage. When officers arrived, the suspect refused to come down. The second floor of the mall was immediately evacuated, and police and fire rescue units were deployed to safely extract him.
Court documents identified the suspect as Gabriel Hideo. During the standoff, Hideo paced above the officers, growling and making incoherent noises while navigating the ductwork. Authorities placed a tall ladder underneath him and positioned a rescue mattress on the floor below as a precaution.
Arrest and Charges
After more than an hour of negotiations, Hideo briefly stepped onto the ladder before attempting to climb back into the ceiling. Officers quickly pulled the ladder away, causing him to fall onto the mattress. Hideo immediately got up and attempted to flee the scene but was rapidly subdued and taken into custody.
"The suspect was booked into the Clark County Jail on multiple felony charges, including malicious mischief and burglary in the first degree," police stated.
Authorities also recovered a large knife from his possession following the arrest. Jail records confirm he was booked on October 1, alongside an outstanding felony warrant.
