Firefighters had tough time rescuing an intoxicated man stuck inside her former girlfriend's chimney after she hampered the rescue effort by blocking the fireplace.

Firefighters had to seek police intervention after Connie Deweese told them to "leave him in the chimney and let him die."

Deweese received misdemeanor citations for disorderly conduct and interfering with a firefighter to rescue her former boy friend Alejandro Valencio.

Valencio, who admitted being drunk when he got into the chimney about 3:30 a.m., Tuesday, told the Associated Press, "Everyone do stupid things sometimes when they're drunk."

Deweese, who had known Valencio for about eight months, said she warned him to stay away from her residence and locked the doors. However, Valencio got to the roof and went inside the chimney.

Local televisions filmed the scene as fire fighters had to tear though the wall of a home to rescue Valencio. Deweese was seen hitting him with a garbage can and pelted him with bottles.

Valencio, who returned to the residence after being treated at a hospital, said he had a job and would help pay for the damages incurred from his rescue.