NEWINGTON, Conn — A former West Hartford swim coach was arrested Monday in Newington as a fugitive from justice wanted on voyeurism charges in Arizona, according to a release from the U.S. Marshals service.
David Laudati, 41, of Newington, is facing 11 counts of voyeurism and eight counts of attempted voyeurism in Maricopa County, Ariz., originating from allegations that followed an investigation by the Buckeye, Ariz. Police Department in September 2023. He was indicted on the charges by an Arizona jury on July 16.
Buckeye police said they received a report on Sept. 9, 2023 from a parent that their 14-year-old daughter was changing in a restroom after swim practice when she spotted a cellphone with the camera and phone screen turned on, located inside of a mesh pocket of a backpack that belonged to Laudati and was left on top of a changing table.
The restroom was in the recreation facility where Laudati had just finished coaching the Arizona Dolphins swim team, according to Buckeye police.
On Sept. 11, 2023, Buckeye Police Special Victims Unit investigators searched Laudati's home in Goodyear, Ariz. through the use of a warrant and seized his cellphone and other devices. As detectives analyzed the electronics, they found multiple photos of female minors who were either fully or partially undressed in the recreation facility restroom and a locker room at a separate recreation facility also in Arizona.
Three victims were identified between the ages of 14 and 17, Buckeye police said. Investigators also learned that Laudati had been a swim coach at Millennium High School in Goodyear, Ariz.
Before the investigation, Laudati was employed as a swim coach at the Mandell Jewish Community Center of Greater Hartford.
A spokesperson for the center said in an email,
"We have just learned of press reports involving a former employee, David Laudati. This individual was last employed by the Mandell JCC in 2019, when he left for a new job in Arizona. We are not aware of any improprieties during his time with us. Our top priority is and remains the safety and well-being of our community."
Laudati was arrested by the Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and Newington Police Department at a residence in the area of East Robbins Street in Newington, the release said.
He was taken into custody and brought to the Newington Police Department, where he was charged with extradition arrest and awaits extradition back to Maricopa County in Arizona to face the voyeurism charges, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Laudati is currently being detained on a $500,000 bond and is expected to appear at New Britain Superior Court on July 30.
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