Maine flower shop break-in a stunt gone wrong

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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who authorities originally said fell to the sidewalk while rappelling down a fire escape after breaking into a Portland flower shop was actually part of a stunt that went awry.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who authorities originally said fell to the sidewalk while rappelling down a fire escape after breaking into a Portland flower shop was actually part of a stunt that went awry.

Ronald Podlaski said he was trying to surprise a friend Saturday by sneaking up the fire escape and climbing in her apartment window. The 29-year-old, an artist who uses the name RookSye, said he got the wrong building and ended up in the florist.

He said he fell from a third-floor window after realizing his mistake and tripping the alarm. He suffered minor injuries.

He said he’d been drinking beer and what he did was “foolish.”

Authorities decided not to charge him. But he plans to apologize to the florist.