A man in Connecticut found himself in a tricky situation when he got stuck in a chimney while trying to rescue his dog. Carlos Owens, 35, was attempting to save his pet, which had been trapped inside a locked bathroom at Rockwell Park in Bristol. The incident happened over the weekend, prompting park employees to call the police when they discovered someone was stuck in the chimney of the recreational meeting facility.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and had to remove parts worth between $5,000 to $10,000 to free Owens, who was located near the chimney flue at the base. Fortunately, he was not injured during the ordeal. However, he was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing, and criminal mischief.
It remains unclear whether Owens was trying to climb up or down the chimney. His dog had also been trapped in the bathroom, which had locked at 10 p.m. the previous night. The dog would have needed to enter the bathroom before it was locked, raising questions about how both ended up in this predicament.
Erica Benoit, a community engagement coordinator for Bristol Parks, explained that the bathroom doors lock automatically at night but that other doors can still be opened from the inside. She noted that the situation was unusual and emphasized that contacting the police could have prevented the incident.
Benoit mentioned that the park staff is working with local authorities to ensure such a situation does not happen again. Thankfully, the dog was unharmed, albeit a bit confused. Owens has been released on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 7.