After an investigation by state police, an Oakdale man was arrested in connection with an attempted break-in at Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream last summer.

Barry Spence, 42, of 36 Leitao Drive was charged May 4 with second-degree criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit third-degree burglary in the incident.

According to the arrest warrant, a trooper responded to a reported overnight break-in at the ice cream shop on Darling Road on July 20. Staff on site reported that video surveillance footage showed a single male arrived by vehicle about 2:44 a.m., peeked in the windows and doors, and left toward Old New London Road. He returned shortly after, tried to kick open the back door and side door, and left again. The side entrance door frame was damaged and footprints were found on the door.

After staff posted images from the video on the shop's Facebook page, seeking the public's help in identifying the man, Spence contacted Troop K to talk about the images. Spence said it wasn't him and that he had been "knocked out" by prescribed Xanax and Ambien the night of the attempted burglary.

Lab results from the state forensic laboratory identified fingerprints from the scene as belonging to Spence. Troopers also met with Spence's fiancee in November, who said the Facebook photo resembled a younger version of Spence and said she had allowed him to use her Toyota Highlander that summer, which was similar to the vehicle in the video.

In January, troopers contacted the Waterford Police Department Investigative Services Division, which had investigated Spence in connection with several other burglaries, allegedly committed with the same vehicle. He currently has 13 other cases awaiting a June 6 court date, all but two of which include various charges of burglary, larceny or criminal mischief. He also was found guilty in eight cases between 2009 and 2010 involving various charges of burglary, larceny or criminal mischief.

In another meeting with Spence at Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville in January, where he was an inmate, he said he had been to the ice cream shop before for ice cream. When asked about his fingerprints on the windows, he said he was "pretty sure" he didn't attempt to break in and couldn't remember that night because of the drugs he had consumed.

A warrant for Spence's arrest was granted by Norwich Superior Court. Police were unable to release where Spence was arrested. He did not post the $15,000 bond and was arraigned on May 4.