Circular power saw used in attempted forced entry.
Dakota J. Kuhnke, 21, New London, is charged with burglary, second-degree reckless endangerment and criminal damage to property.
Shortly before 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, New London Police Sgt. Todd Sarazin received a call reporting Kuhnke was driving a large white truck that ran into a vehicle in the Beacon Street parking lot.
The caller said Kuhnke left the scene and was heading south on Pearl Street.
Sarazin was still taking the traffic complaint when dispatch received another report that somebody just drove a large truck through a lawn and into another yard on the 100 block of Jefferson Street.
The person who made the second call said the driver was now pounding on the door and trying to get into their house.
As Sarazin and Officer Mike Harlow responded, dispatch reported the driver was now trying to force his way into the house with a chain saw.
When they arrived, the officers found Kuhnke sitting in the driver’s seat of a large white pickup that was in the yard.
According to the criminal complaint, Kuhnke’s speech was slurred, he smelled of alcohol and he yelled profanities at the officers.
A preliminary breath test indicated Kuhnke had a .17 blood-alcohol content, police say.
Kuhnke reportedly admitted to taking a circular saw from his truck and trying to cut through the door.
Police found a circular saw on the front seat of the truck.
Two men who lived in the house said they were almost cut by the saw blade as it came through the door.
There was a 2-year-old child in the house at the time of the incident.
Kuhnke was released on a $1,500 signature bond co-signed by his mother.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of burglary and 10 years if convicted of reckless endangerment.