Bridgeport Juvenile Officer Charged With Fraud

HARTFORD — A state juvenile detention officer who went out on worker’s compensation after claiming he got hurt restraining a detainee at the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center has been arrested after authorities said he was discovered allegedly coaching a youth football team.

Gregory Brunson, 35, of East Haven, was charged Friday with one count of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community.

He was released after posting $10,000 bond pending arraignment in Superior Court here on Dec. 29.

State Judicial Branch Spokeswoman Rhonda Stearly-Hebert said Brunson will be placed on administrative leave with pay effective immediately pending the outcome of an administrative investigation.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, in August 2019, Brunson, a juvenile detention officer assigned to the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center, claimed he injured his back during his duties when attempting to restrain a detainee. He was examined by a physician and was placed on temporary total disability — meaning he was considered to have zero work capacity and could not earn any outside wages without reporting it, the affidavit states.

From Aug. 24, 2019, to Dec. 29, 2019, Brunson received $12,459.25 in benefits and $1,284.31 in medical costs.

While receiving benefits during that time frame, Brunson failed to disclose he had been coaching an area youth football team that traveled to Florida and entered a playoff, the affidavit states.

The affidavit continues that Brunson was observed on multiple occasions both in Connecticut and Florida engaging in physical activities that could not be performed under his benefits status.

The case is being prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill.