By Kevin Hogan

New London, CT (WFSB/CNN) - A teenager wanted on felony burglary charges is behind bars.

But being in jail may seem better than where he ended up Thursday night.

Police say the young man took off running when they tried to serve him with a warrant.

New London firefighters worked frantically to save 18-year-old Dean LaChappelle who got stuck 15 feet down a chimney while trying to hide from police.

"I was amazed I don't know how a somebody could just jump into a chimney," said witness Anastacio Baez.

Police initially came over to Coit Street and a rehab center to serve LaChappelle an arrest warrant for burglary, but he ran away to a house at 14 Homes Street, and up the fire escape to an occupied apartment on the second floor.

The tenant slammed the door on LaChappelle, who then made his way to the roof, popped off the cap of a chimney, and slid down to avoid the police K-9's.

"Our friend told me that they heard him yelling, that's how they knew he was in the chimney. So then they called the fire department," said another witness, Tyneal Smith.

The fire department broke through the chimney wall on the second floor, taking LaChappelle for a checkup at the hospital before confining him again behind bars at the New London Police Department.

"This was crazy. This neighborhood actually really quiet like, not a lot of stuff goes on around here but that was shocking," said Michaela Bland.

Police say LaChappelle is facing several charges, and others may be pending.

He's being held on $75,000 bond.

WFSB/CNN