Cranston PD: Vietnamese national barricaded himself in Taco Bell freezer after three home break-in attempts
CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston police arrested a break-in suspect they say was seen running through traffic before barricading himself inside the freezer of a Taco Bell on Thursday.
Thu Chau, 38, of Cranston, is facing numerous charges including breaking and entering, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct.
According to Cranston police Major Todd Patalano, officers responded at 2:37 p.m. to reports of a man with a knife running in and out of traffic near 1111 Cranston Street.
The subject was also reported to be attempting to open vehicle doors.
Witnesses told officers that the subject had entered the Taco Bell on Cranston Street and barricaded himself inside the kitchen freezer, according to Major Patalano.
Cranston police released officer bodycam footage of Chau’s arrest.
The restaurant was immediately ordered evacuated as police established a perimeter around the freezer.
Officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to exit the freezer and received no reply.
Police said that officers entered the freezer and engaged in a brief struggle with the suspect before taking him into custody.
Patalano said that a large kitchen knife was recovered from the freezer, which they believed to belonged to Chau.
An officer can be heard in the footage audio pointing out what appeared to be blood on the knife, and that it could be that of the suspect as no one was injured in the incident.
Police then received a call from a juvenile resident on Chestnut Hill Avenue who reported that an unknown male forced his way into the home.
The subject, who matched the description of Chau, was scared off when the juvenile brandished a knife at him.
Further investigation revealed that Chau had allegedly attempted to enter two other homes on Chestnut Hill Avenue on that day.
Chau is a Vietnamese national who was ordered for removal by ICE in Rhode Island and Maine in 2007 and 2020, respectively.
He had previously been arrested five times in the Ocean State.
Chau was transported to the Adult Corrections Intake Center and will be arraigned Friday morning in Third District Court in Warwick.
