Former Stratford Teacher Wrestled with Students at School, in Teens' Home: Report

STRATFORD, CT — Former Stratford High School math teacher Gregg Gustafson, 46, is accused of wrestling with students at the school and in the basement of the home of two teen brothers.

The Connecticut Post reports that the mother of a 19-year-old and 15-year-old told police that she had seen Gustafson tickling her sons on several occasions.

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Stratford Police arrested Gustafson on Monday on charges of tampering with a witness, criminal attempt at bribery of a witness and tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Lt. Frank Eannotti said the charges stem from an investigation into a complaint made to the Stratford Police Department on Feb. 25 concerning Gustafson's alleged inappropriate actions with some of his students.

The Post reports that the 19-year-old told police that he had wrestled with Gustafson 15 to 20 times during school hours and once or twice after school. During those encounters at school, Gustafson is accused of taking the boy and a 17-year-old friend out of class and attempting to give them “wedgies” while wrestling.

In the last encounter at the 19-year-old’s home on Feb. 23, he told police that Gustafson tied his hands behind his back and around his neck. Gustafson quickly untied him when his mother got home, according to the Post.

Gustafson is alleged to have offered money to one of the complainants in exchange for a change in testimony and destruction of video evidence, according to Eannotti.

The Post reports that Gustafson, who told police he went to the home to tutor the 19-year-old, allegedly offered the teen $2,500 to $5,000 “or anything else’’ to erase a cell phone video and to come up with another story explaining their encounters.

Stratford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Robinsontold WFSB 3 that the “inappropriate conduct” with students was not sexual in nature.

She also said the Gustafson was placed on administrative leave at the time of the investigation and he resigned in March.

Gustafson was released on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Court on June 14.

Read more details on the accusations against Gustafson at the Connecticut Post here.