Illegal ceiling dweller fell into a busy Denver restaurant, caused $100K in damage

Colorado man Stephen Graves gave new meaning to “dropping in for dinner” when he fell from the rafters of a Yard House restaurant in downtown Denver. Unfortunately for his meal plans, he got broke a water pipe on his way down and then got trapped between two walls. After firefighters cut him out, Stephen, 36, was transported to a local hospital and charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

According to Fox 31 Denver, officers responded to the busy downtown restaurant around 11 p.m. on Tuesday night after receiving reports a man fell through the ceiling. They spotted him “walking through the space where the water pipes are located,” but he apparently slipped and fell again, which caused one of the pipes to break — resulting in an estimated $100,000 in damage at the Yard House and attached Sheraton Hotel.

After that second fall, officers lose track of Stephen for a while. Fox 31 reports, “About 2:30 a.m., police heard moans coming from an area near the front of the restaurant. They pulled back a booth chair and saw the man’s feet.” Firefighters then had to cut him out of the space and he was transported to Denver Health with unknown injuries.

Upon further investigation, authorities found wine corks and cardboard boxes hidden back in the duct work. It appears Stephen had been residing there “for some time.” He is now in custody with a $7,000 bond.

I’ve just got to note that I ate at this Yard House in October and it blows my mind that someone could have snuck into the ceiling… It’s a busy restaurant, attached to a busy hotel and located in a busy section of the downtown. I know this story doesn’t explain how he got up there and went unnoticed for so long, but just trust me when I say I’m as curious as you!