Burlington, CT Man Charged in Shooting of Bear

 At approximately 7:30 a.m., this morning (May 15), officers from D.E.E.P.’s Environmental Conservation Police  responded to 4 Cobblestone Road in Burlington to investigate the report of a possible shooting of a Black Bear. 

The resident from that address contacted the Connecticut State Police reporting that they heard two gunshots, and then saw a black bear come into their yard and lay down.  

Upon arrival, EnCon officers found that the black bear, a male weighing approximately 460 pounds, was dead and had been shot.  The investigation lead to the arrest of Cory J Maitz,  42, of 6 Cobblestone Road,  Burlington, on charges of Illegally Killing a Black Bear, a misdemeanor, and Criminal Possession of a Pistol, a Class D felony.

Maitz allegedly shot the Black Bear with a pistol after it he had seen it enter his garage then go into his back yard.   The bear and firearm were seized as evidence and are being held pending court action. Maitz was released on a promise to appear at Bristol Superior Court on June 04, 2012.