A Knock From the Wall... US Man Trapped in Movie Theater Cavity Rescued and Arrested

Found Inside the Wall Between Theater and Cafe
Police Officers Buying Coffee Hear Cries for Help, Launch Search

A man in California, United States, was rescued after being trapped for about 12 hours inside the wall cavity of a movie theater building. Immediately after his rescue, the man was taken to the hospital for a medical examination and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft.

On May 20, Yonhap News TV, citing CBS News and other sources, reported on an incident in which the Salinas Police Department in California recently arrested a man inside a movie theater building.

The fire brigade conducted rescue operations for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including tearing down part of the wall, before bringing him outside. CBS NEWS

Earlier, on the morning of May 17, Isaac Valencia (29) was rescued from the wall cavity located between Maya Cinemas in Salinas and the adjacent Cafe Bruji. The first to notice Valencia’s presence were police officers who happened to be buying coffee at the nearby cafe. The officers heard faint cries for help coming from within the building, and upon investigating, determined that the sounds were emanating from inside the wall between the movie theater and the cafe.

When police knocked on the wall, they received a knock in response from inside. The police and fire department then confirmed that Valencia was trapped in an empty space within the wall. According to an initial investigation by the local fire department, Valencia is believed to have slipped and fallen about 22 feet (approximately 6.7 meters) from near the roof of Maya Cinemas. He is reported to have told rescuers that he had been trapped since around 9 p.m. the previous night.

Authorities explained that he was stuck between metal structures and unable to move. Although there was a small inspection opening at the scene that a person could pass through, it remains unclear exactly how Valencia entered the wall cavity. The fire brigade carried out rescue operations for about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including tearing down part of the wall, and finally brought him outside. Valencia sustained a minor back injury and was transported to the nearby Natividad Medical Center.

After completing his medical examination, Valencia was transferred to the Monterey County Jail. Police charged him with theft, and his bail was set at $10,000. However, police did not disclose what he allegedly tried to steal or the specific circumstances under which he entered the building. The case remains under further investigation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.