A well known, long-time Sarnia gymnastics coach with international experience is facing several sex-related charges.
City police say Dave Brubaker was arrested Thursday and charged Friday with one count of invitation to sexual touching, three counts of sexual interference, three counts of sexual exploitation and three counts of sexual assault.
Brubaker, who has been coaching for 30 years, appeared in court Friday and was released on bail with a February court date.
He is currently the women’s national team director for Gymnastics Canada, and the organization issued a statement Friday evening that says it is "shocked and deeply troubled" by the charges.
“Our first priority within Gymnastics Canada is always the safety of our athletes,” said Richard Crépin, chair of the Board of Directors. “Sport should be a safe place for everyone, and we’re working hard to ensure that we have the policies and procedures, as well as the education and resources in place, to ensure the safety of all of our participants.”
The statement from Gymnastics Canada goes on to say that Brubaker has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the police investigation.
Police say a court ban has been imposed on the release of any further details about the alleged offences.
Brubaker has helped train the country's top gymnasts at the Bluewater Gymnastics Club and has experience as a head coach, coach or team leader at the Olympic Games, the world championships, the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games and the Pacific Rim Championships.
Brubaker was also inducted into the Sarnia-Lambton Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 in the Builder category.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Soucek at 519-344-8861 ext. 6191 or the Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Branch at 519-344-8861 ext. 5300.
-With files from Kirk Dickinson