Cop: John Rocha arrested for killing bear on his property

An elderly Connecticut man who police accused of killing a black bear said it could not have been him because he does not own a gun.

John Rocha, of Windsor, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police said he shot a mama bear that was in his back yard.

Police were called to Poquonock Avenue by residents who saw the bear and her cub wandering the area.

Authorities say 82-year-old Rocha shot the mama bear after she climbed up a tree on his property. Rocha, however, denied the allegations saying that he witnessed the killing and it was an officer who killed the animal.

Roche told a local report that the bear had been on and off his property for the last three days.

He said he called the police the first time he saw the animal, but they never came until Wednesday.

Roche said when the officer came to his house the cop asked him if he could walked through the house to get to the backyard to get to the bear.  He said he followed the officer and saw the officer when he shot the bear.

Although Roche said he does not own a weapon, authorities confiscated a 30-caliber rifle from his home.

Roche was charged with fourth-degree negligent.

Authorities say it is illegal to kill a black bear unless it’s attacking you.