A Connecticut father was arrested for fatally shooting a black bear outside his home, despite claiming he acted in self-defense when the animal approached “within feet” of his children.
Todd Topicz told WFSB that he was abruptly woken by his pregnant wife in August after a bear approached their two kids, who were playing in the garage of their Bethlehem home, while also chasing their dog up a tree.
“The bear walked right into the garage with people inside. It didn’t care. Who knows what could’ve happened next time?” Topicz said.
Topicz stated that he fired several warning shots into the air, causing the bear to flee into the woods. It wasn’t until the next day that he realized he had unintentionally killed the animal, after a neighbor notified the police about the dead bear.
Two weeks later, the father was arrested by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), despite his claim that he was simply trying to protect his children.
“DEEP contacted me and said, ‘Since you shot and killed the bear, we have to arrest you and charge you with the illegal taking of a bear,’” Topicz said.
Topicz was baffled by the arrest, as a 2023 law allows people to kill a bear in self-defense if they reasonably believe the animal poses a threat to human safety, is about to harm a pet, or has entered a building with people inside.
“We were all threatened. The bear entered our home. I have no idea why DEEP charged me for this,” Topicz said.
In response, state legislators have sent a letter to DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes, seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
“The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has not commented on the case. Why is that? Has the case been sealed, and if so, why? A public statement from DEEP on this public safety issue would help clarify the situation and allow us to better communicate with our constituents,” Senators Eric Berthel, Henri Martin, and Stephen Harding said in a joint statement.
Topicz mentioned that he was participating in an accelerated rehabilitation program for first-time offenders.
If he completes the program, no charges will be filed against him.
DEEP has not yet responded to requests for comment.
