BETHLEHEM, Conn. — Todd Topicz, a 39-year-old father and U.S. Army veteran, is at the center of a growing controversy after being charged with illegally killing a black bear that he says posed a threat to his family.
Topicz claims the bear entered his garage, rummaged through trash, and came dangerously close to his 3-year-old daughter and 10-year-old stepson. According to him, the situation escalated when the family dog chased the bear up a tree. In an attempt to scare it off, Topicz says he fired five warning shots, one of which he later learned had struck and killed the animal.
Under Connecticut law, it is illegal to kill a bear unless it is actively threatening people or pets or has entered an occupied building. Topicz maintains that all those conditions applied, but the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) still charged him with illegal taking of a bear. He must now complete a rehabilitation program to potentially have the charge dismissed.
Topicz also faces local charges of negligent discharge of a firearm and breach of peace after a neighbor called the police upon hearing gunfire. The bear’s body was found in a nearby ditch the following day.
“I have no idea why DEEP ended up charging me,” Topicz told WFSB. “We were all threatened. It entered our home.”
The arrest has sparked a political response. State Senators Eric Berthel, Henri Martin, and Stephen Harding sent a letter to DEEP requesting clarification and criticizing the department’s silence.
“A public statement from DEEP regarding this public safety matter would help resolve confusion,” the senators wrote.
A DEEP spokesperson declined to comment, citing a court-ordered seal on the case records.
This case comes amid broader debate over Connecticut’s growing bear population, with many residents pushing for a legal bear hunt in light of increased sightings and confrontations.
