When a guy was attempting to get his dog out of a restroom when the doors automatically locked for the night, he became trapped in the chimney of a Connecticut parks building and had to be rescued by firefighters.
When police arrived at Bristol’s Rockwell Park on Sunday morning to investigate a burglary report, park staff informed them that someone was in the chimney. When firefighters arrived on the site, they had to remove portions of the building and chimney, which caused damage estimated at $5,000 to $10,000, but they managed to get the man out.
The unharmed Bristol man was taken into custody and accused of criminal mischief, trespassing, and burglary. He was given a bond and told to show up for court on July 7.
An email address associated with the man in public records was used to send a message requesting comment. The phone numbers that were provided for him were not operational. There was no lawyer listed for him in online court records.
The man became stuck close to the chimney flue of Mrs. Rockwell’s Pavilion, a structure named for a park benefit. According to Erica Benoit, community engagement coordinator for Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth, and Community Services, the locks on the restroom doors are now on new timers and lock automatically every night at 10 p.m.
How long the man was in the chimney and how the dog became caught in the bathroom are unknown. Once the doors are locked for the night, they can be opened from the inside. According to the authorities, the dog was unhurt.
According to Benoit, the situation is a little bizarre. To ensure it doesn’t happen again, our parks staff is collaborating with the police and fire departments. We might have been able to prevent the problem if he had simply called the police beforehand.
