A man got struck in a chimney while trying to rescue his dog that was trapped inside a locked bathroom at a Connecticut park, police said Sunday.
The stunt landed Carlos Owens, 35, in handcuffs after employees at Rockwell park in Bristol called police and reported that someone was in the chimney at the recreational meeting facility.
Firefighters had to remove $5,000 to $10,000 worth of parts to free Owens, whose pup was waiting in the bathroom after also getting stuck inside the building the night before.
It is unclear if Owens was trying to climb up or inch down the chimney. Police said they found him near the flue at the base.
While Owens was unscathed, he was promptly cuffed and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief.
Erica Benoit, community engagement coordinator for Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services, said that the bathroom doors are set on timers and lock every night at 10 p.m. Other doors can still be opened from the inside overnight.
For Owens’ pup to be stranded in the lavatory, it would’ve had to enter before then.
“It is a bit of a crazy scenario. Our parks staff is working with the police department and the fire department to make sure that doesn’t happen again. If he had just contacted police in the first place, we might have been able to avoid the situation,” Benoit said.
Still, it’s not clear how the duo fell into the precarious situation. The dog, though, was thankfully unharmed — just a little befuddled.
The Post reached out to members of the Bristol Police Department’s communications team for clarity.
Owens was released on bond and ordered to appear in court on July 7.
With Post wires
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