Police bodycam video shows Gwinnett County officers finding burglary suspect hiding in fridge
By: -----
Norcross, GA - A Georgia man is facing burglary and property damage charges after police said he broke into a vacant apartment and hid inside an unplugged refrigerator when officers arrived.
Police responded to the 1700 Estates Apartments on Tree House Parkway in Norcross after a neighbor reported hearing banging noises coming from the unit below, which was believed to be vacant.
“When officers searched the apartment, they opened the unplugged refrigerator and found a person hiding inside,” Gwinnett County police Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle said.
Police identified the man as Jose Quintanilla, 25, of Duluth. Officers said he remained inside the refrigerator as they searched the apartment room by room, including cabinets, closets and other hiding places, before reaching the kitchen.
According to police, Quintanilla ignored commands to come out at first. When he eventually emerged, officers said he told them he had entered the apartment to escape the cold.
“It’s cold outside,” he said, according to police.
The apartment was under renovation at the time of the break-in. Police said Quintanilla pulled electrical wires from newly installed sheetrock Thursday night, causing about $2,000 in damage.
Winderweedle described the hiding place as highly unusual.
“Very unusual,” he said. “When officers are searching, they’re searching kitchen cabinets, closets, any place where somebody could be hiding, and the unplugged fridge was enough room inside for this man to hide.”