Police: Man Runs from Store with Painting, Says He Wanted Natural Light

A 74-year-old local man who was seen running from a store on Cherry Street and found with a painting from the store in the parking lot was later charged with larceny, New Canaan police said.

Police gave this account (an accusation not proven in court) of the incident:

At about 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, a store manager at Severed Ties at 111 Cherry St. heard the bell for the front entrance ring, but didn’t see anyone in the store. Shortly afterward, she saw someone run past the store window.

She followed the runner out into the parking lot, where she saw James Blackwell, 74, a New Canaan resident who she knew by name because he had frequented the store. In fact, he had been in the store earlier that day, at about 2:30 p.m. and had asked about a lamp.

He had a painting from the store in his hand. He told her that he wanted to see the painting in natural light. It was beginning to get dark out.

The framed oil painting is a still life priced at $1,050. The store manager took it back and called police.

Police went to Blackwell’s home on Summer Street, and he also told them he wanted to see the painting in natural light. They decided they wanted to see him in court and arrested him on a charge of fourth-degree larceny. His bond was set at $1,000, which he posted, and he is scheduled to appear May 4 in state Superior Court in Norwalk.

Picture: New Canaan police arrest photo of James Blackwell, 74, of Summer St., New Canaan