Suspected burglar discovered trapped in oven vent

[March 24, 2009]  DENVER (AP) -- The manager of a Blackjack Pizza outlet in Denver got a start when he discovered a man's legs hanging from a vent above the restaurant's oven.

Police said the dangling legs were accompanied by a voice yelling, "Help me, help me," Friday morning. Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said the 5-foot-10, 170-pound man told officers and firefighters he'd been stuck in the duct for five or six hours.

Jackson said the man was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Police haven't identified the suspect or the manager. The store was closed later Friday.

Jackson said the man could have been asphyxiated if the oven had turned on automatically or if the manager hadn't come in early.

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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com/

[Associated Press]

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