Man Rescued from Chimney After Getting Stuck Trying to Retrieve Dog from Bristol Parks Building

Firefighters in Bristol, Connecticut had to come to the rescue of a man who found himself stuck in the chimney of a parks building while attempting to retrieve his dog from a locked bathroom. The incident occurred when the doors of the building automatically locked for the night, trapping the man inside.

Police responded to a burglary complaint at Rockwell Park on Sunday morning, where they were informed by parks employees that someone was stuck in the chimney. Firefighters arrived on the scene and had to remove parts of the chimney and building to free the man, causing an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage, according to police reports.

The Bristol man, who emerged from the ordeal unharmed, was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing, and criminal mischief. He was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 7. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful as his listed phone numbers were not in service, and he did not have a lawyer listed in online court records.

The man had become stuck near the flue of Mrs. Rockwell’s Pavilion, a building named after a park benefactor. Erica Benoit, the community engagement coordinator for Bristol Parks, explained that the bathroom doors are equipped with timers that automatically lock at 10 p.m. each night. The situation could have been avoided if the man had contacted the police for assistance instead of attempting to retrieve his dog himself.

It remains unclear how the man’s dog ended up locked in the bathroom or how long the man was trapped in the chimney. Fortunately, the dog was unharmed during the incident. Benoit assured that steps are being taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future, emphasizing the importance of reaching out to authorities for help in such situations.