WASHINGTON — A Springfield man who tried to hide from officers in an ash room, connected to the chimney of his family’s home is facing multiple charges.
Fairfax County Police say officers arrived on a call for an assault and found Michael Rocca in his car. After trying to drive away, police say Rocca ran back inside the house on Oriole Avenue, refusing to come out.
When officers were let in, they saw weapons in plain view and learned Rocca was wanted by both Virginia State Police and Prince William County Police, said Officer Roger Henriquez with Fairfax County Police.
Police dogs and a police helicopter were called out to help search for the man, whom police believed had fled the house, Henriquez said.
A two-hour search ended back at the home when officers realized Rocca was hiding in a small ash room adjacent to the chimney.
“It took some time to get him out of the chimney. Pretty much the officers getting him out of there were fairly covered in soot,” Henriquez says.
Officers used what was described as “bodily force” to drag an unwilling Rocca out of his hiding spot. He struggled with officers and later complained that he was in pain. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, police said.
Rocca faces charges including possession of a firearm by a felon and resisting arrest.
