A suspect fleeing police Monday night in Montreal's Villeray neighbourhood found himself in a tight spot after choosing a less than clever place to hide out from the law.

At about 7:30 p.m., officers spotted a 19-year-old man near Saint-Denis and Jarry streets wanted on outstanding warrants.

When officers went to arrest him, the suspect ran. Officers followed and chased him as he climbed onto the roof of a building.

When they got to the top, they found no sign of the man.

“They thought, ‘Okay, maybe we missed him or something,’” said Const. Simon Delorme of the Montreal Police. “One hour and a half later, 911 received a call from a young, 19-year-old guy that was stuck in a chimney and [was] requesting some help.”

Officers realized this was the same man they had chased earlier in the evening, who had evidently squeezed himself into the chimney to avoid arrest.

The man was freed a short time later and treated in hospital for minor injuries.

He was also arrested and is expected to appear in court later Tuesday.