Crime & Safety

Burlington Man Charged with Killing Black Bear

The bear allegedly entered man's garage and backyard, but killing bears is illegal in Connecticut.

 

A Burlington man was charged Tuesday with illegally killing a black bear, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

In a news release, department officials said they were called to 4 Cobblestone Road in Burlington, at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday after a resident reported hearing gunshots and then seeing a bear come into his yard and lay down.

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After investigating, Cory J. Maitz, 42, of 6 Cobblestone Road, Burlington, was arrested and charged with illegally killing a black bear — a misdemeanor — and criminal possession of a firearm — a felony.

DEEP officials said it appeared that Maitz shot the black bear — a male weighing about 460 pounds — with a pistol after seeing it enter his garage and backyard. Both the bear and the pistol were seized as evidence.

Find out what's happening in Grotonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Maitz was released and is scheduled to appear at Bristol Superior Court on June 4.


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