Alouettes suspend fullback Normand in response to child luring allegation

The Montreal Alouettes say fullback Christophe Normand has been suspended pending the outcome of a luring investigation.

Provincial police Sgt. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau said the 30-yearold Normand was arrested after a search at his home by police investigators on the morning of Aug. 19.

Normand was in the lineup for Montreal’s 29-28 win over visiting Hamilton on Aug. 20.

Normand, a former teacher, faces two charges of luring a child under 18, including one count of luring a child under 16, or who the accused believed was under 16 at the time of the offence. Bilodeau said both offences involve a single victim.

Court records show he appeared in court in Granby, Que., on Thursday.

There’s no evidence that Normand met the alleged victim after he attempted to lure her, Bilodeau said, adding that investigators “confirmed that there would have been no other events where the victim and the accused would have been together except at school last year.”

While she said the investigation has only identified one victim, police are asking members of the public who have information about the alleged events, or other possible victims, to come forward.

The offences are alleged to have occurred Aug. 9, 2022.

A seven-year veteran in the CFL, Normand is currently in his third season with Montreal.

Since 2015, Normand has worked in the off-season as a school teacher.

Two years ago, according the Montreal Alouettes’ website, he started teaching social studies at Monseigneur-Euclide-Theberge High School, his alma mater, in Marieville, Que.