Conroe firefighters bust out councilman from locked bathroom

Conroe City Council member Duane Ham smiles after firefighters with the Conroe Fire Department freed him from a locked unisex bathroom at Super Z Food Market on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Conroe. Conroe City Council member Duane Ham smiles after firefighters with the Conroe Fire Department freed him from a locked unisex bathroom at Super Z Food Market on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Conroe. Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Conroe firefighters bust out councilman from locked bathroom 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Conroe City Councilman Duane Ham might know a thing or two about pinching pennies -- whether its city taxpayers' or his own money. However, when stuck in a pinch such as a locked bathroom, even the ingenuitive Ham needed the help of Conroe's finest.

Ham stopped by the Super Z Food Market and gas station on the corner of First Street and East Davis Street shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday when he noticed diesel was $2.17 per gallon. As his truck was filling up, he went inside to use the restroom like any other customer.

"I locked the handle," Ham said after being freed by Conroe firefighters. "But it wouldn't budge.

"They tried for 30 minutes."

The firefighters with CFD Station 1 tried to extend the door jam in hopes the door would swing open, but that plan fell flat. They eventually had to pry open the door and free the first-term councilman after 30 minutes in lavatory lockup.

Ham could be seen ripping a sign off the bathroom indicating it was for women, though the councilman claims the bathroom was originally unisex and had both a women's and men's sign on the door. He said the men's sign fell off prior to his arrival.

Ham thanked the firefighters and walked back out to his truck unfazed, still marveling about the inexpensive diesel.