This article originally ran on sister site Darienite.com and was written by editor David Gurliacci
Updated 10:42 p.m.: Raul Bourgeois, A freshman lacrosse coach at Darien High School was arrested on narcotics charges by Waterbury police detectives after Darien police took the man into custody at about 2:30 p.m. on the high school campus.
A spokesman for Waterbury police said Bourgeois was arrested on a charge of possession of narcotics in connection with a motor vehicle stop by police in that city, Hearst newspapers reported late Thursday night.
The timing may have been related to the end of the school day at 2:20 p.m., 10 minutes before. Darien police said they acted at the request of the Waterbury Police Department and immediately turned over Raul Bourgeois to the Waterbury detectives at Darien Police Headquarters.
Bourgeois, who also owns The Lacrosse Company, a lacrosse coaching business, was wanted on a warrant from Waterbury, Darien police said in an 8:14 p.m. news release.
Darien police said they would defer to the Waterbury department for information on why Bourgeois was arrested.
“At no time were students at Darien High School at risk,” the news release said.
At 8:53 p.m., Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn emailed parents of the schools students, saying that “one of the freshmen lacrosse coaches” was arrested by Waterbury police. “We have no further details at this time regarding the arrest. As information becomes available, we will share it with you where possible.
“[DHS Lacrosse Head] Coach [Jeff] Brameier has been informed and the coaching staff will be adjusted in order to meet the needs of our student athletes, including staffing tomorrow’s contests in New Jersey,” Dunn concluded.
The Lacrosse Company was founded in February 2016, according to Bourgeois’ LinkedIn page. Bourgeois studied pre-law, justice and law administration from 2010 to 2013 at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and also studied at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
“The Lacrosse Company LLC (Laxco) provides individual and small group lacrosse training, larger camps/clinics, stick stringing and equipment services, retail sales of new and used lacrosse equipment, and assistance with the college process and recruiting. […] From brand new first day players to very experienced players ages 4-18, LaxCo offers services to help players achieve their goals.”
Bourgeois studied pre-law, justice and law administration from 2010 to 2013 at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and also studied at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
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Several high school coaches in southern Fairfield County have been arrested in recent years. Here are some of the cases in the last five years:
- An assistant basketball coach in New Canaan this past March.
- In January, the basketball coach for a Norwalk High School team was issued a misdemeanor summons charging him with third-degree assault after a fight broke out between players during and then again after a game at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.
- An assistant football coach at Darien High School was arrested in Norwalk in October 2013 on charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He later filed a civil rights lawsuit against police, accusing them of using excessive force.
- A former swim coach at Staples High School in Westport was sentenced after he was found guilty of child sexual abuse (unrelated to his coaching) in October 2014.
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Darien Police News Release
Here is the full text:
On May 10th, 2018 at approximately 1400hrs the Waterbury Police Department contacted this agency in regard to an individual, identified as Raul Bourgeois, who was believed to be within our jurisdiction and for whom they had an active arrest warrant. Bourgeois was believed to be on the campus of Darien High School.
Detectives from the Darien Police Department were able to locate Bourgeois at Darien High School and take him into custody. He was transported to Darien Police Headquarters where he was immediately turned over to Detectives from the Waterbury Police Department. At no time were students at Darien High School at risk.
Given that the arrest warrant originated from the Waterbury Police Department, no further information will be released by this agency. All inquiries in regard to the above matter should be directed to the Waterbury Police Department.
DHS Principal Ellen Dunn’s Email
Here is the full text:
Dear DHS Families,
This afternoon at about 2:30, one of the freshmen lacrosse coaches was taken to the Darien Police Station where he was later arrested by Waterbury Police Officers. We have no further details at this time regarding the arrest. As information becomes available we will share it with you where possible. Coach Brameier has been informed and the coaching staff will be adjusted in order to meet the needs of our student athletes, including staffing tomorrow’s contests in New Jersey.
Sincerely,
Ellen Dunn
DHS Principal