Man charged in Christmas break-in

BETHEL — A Danbury man was arrested Christmas morning after residents reported someone trying to enter a car parked in a driveway, then fell thorugh thin ice trying to flee police.

Police responding to the area of Meckauer Circle shortly before 6:30 a.m. found a vehicle with the engine on abandoned in the roadway and discarded items nearby, then saw a person running through nearby woods.

A State Police K-9 unit helped tracked the suspect. As officers and the dog made their way through the woods, they heard someone calling for help and found 18-year-old Javon Priar, who had fallen through ice as he attempted to run across a pond.

Officers said they attempted to enter the water to rescue him, but were unable and found an object nearby that they used to pull Priar to safety, where he was placed under arrest.

Police said Priar provided false identification when first taken into custody.

He was taken to the hospital for treatment due to his immersion in cold water

The vehicle found in the roadway was found to contain marijuana, Ecastasy tablets, and items stolen from other vehicles in the area, police said. Bethel Police said they have responded to five instances of items stolen from parked vehicles.

Priar was charged with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana, and interfering with an officer. He posted a $10,000 bond and is due at state Superior Court in Danbury Jan. 5.