Stalking Charges Filed Against N.H. Man By Enfield Police

ENFIELD, CT — A New Hampshire man who told police he drove to Connecticut after work Monday wound up at a store at the same time his former girlfriend, who has a restraining order against him, was shopping in the store.

Police went to the Enfield Street store Monday evening after receiving a complaint from the woman that her ex-boyfriend, Brian Thornton, was parked in his vehicle behind her car as she exited the store. She said he sped away when he saw her, Sgt. Chuck Lelas said.

Police utilized street surveillance cameras in the area and were able to track down Thornton at a house on Windham Street. He told them he had left his job in New Hampshire, drove to Connecticut and ended up at the store, where he said he saw the woman in her vehicle. He said he then "called the out-of-state police" to report he had seen her, and knowing there was an active restraining order against him, left immediately to avoid getting in trouble, Chief Alaric Fox said.

Some of his statements to police were contradicted by the video evidence, and he was placed under arrest shortly before 8 p.m. He was charged with first-degree stalking, second-degree breach of peace, violation of a protective order and issuing a false statement.

Bond was set at $75,000, which was upped to $100,000 at an appearance in Enfield Superior Court. He posted bond, and is slated to return to court Aug. 6.