Convicted Child Rapist Captured in Darien Park: PD

DARIEN, CT — Police arrested an Idaho man, a convicted sex offender who is also a fugitive from justice, who was found sleeping in the woods alongside a walking trail at Cherry Lawn Park.

Police received a report of a sleeping man Sept. 13 around 7:30 a.m. and quickly located the man, who was later identified as Brian Cook, 35.

Cook initially told police he was walking from Denver to Bangor, Maine, in honor of his deceased daughter, police said.

Officers determined Cook wasn't being truthful and arrested him. It was learned that Cook is a fugitive from justice from Idaho.

"Cook has an extensive criminal history and an outstanding extraditable warrant in Idaho for probation violations stemming from rape charges involving a victim under one (1) year old," said Sgt. Jeremiah Marron, police spokesman. "Cook is currently listed on the National Sex Offender Registry."

Cook had a machete-style knife on him along with another illegal knife, Marron said. He admitted to trying to flee to Canada through Maine.

He was charged with interfering with police, two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, violation of a town ordinance and fugitive from justice. He was held on a $300,000 bond and is currently incarcerated and awaiting extradition to Idaho.

"Through investigation it was determined that Cook had only been in the Darien area for approximately nine hours," Marron said. "At this point Cook is not being investigated for any other incident in Darien or the surrounding areas."