Man arrested after getting trapped in Wildhorse air vent

Metro police arrested a man accused of breaking into Wildhorse Saloon on Thursday after they say he got trapped in an air vent, fell and injured himself.

Larico Nixon, who was briefly hospitalized after the incident at the popular downtown Nashville spot, now faces charges including burglary and resisting arrest, according to a warrant filed in Davidson County Circuit Court.

Officers responded just before 4 a.m. to the business at 120 2nd Avenue North for a report of a burglary in progress, the warrant states.

At the Wildhorse, an employee told arriving officers he watched a man enter the rear gate on the 1st Avenue North side of the business and walk into the saloon without permission.

He then disappeared.

Shortly after, police heard a man shouting for help and learned he'd become stuck in an air vent on the third floor of the business.

Officers found the man with his upper torso hanging out of an air vent about 10-12 feet above the ground.

Officers then ordered the man to stay where he was and to not attempt to get down, but the man ignored their commands, exited the air vent and started to climb down from the vent using electrical conduit and drain pipes to aid his descent, according to the warrant.

Feet first, the man fell to the ground.

Firefighters responded to the scene to evaluate the man for minor injuries. Police identified the man as Nixon, and emergency crews transported him to Nashville General Hospital after he told officers he had ingested a large amount of cocaine.

Once in the ambulance, Nixon allegedly became combative with an accompanying police officer and the ambulance had to stop so the paramedic could assist with restraining him.

Nixon was arrested later that morning, slapped with an additional violation of probation charge, and then booked into the Metro jail where he remained Friday morning in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Court records who he's slated to appear in court Tuesday for a hearing on the charges.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072. Follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.