Get the weekly rundown Sign up to receive our weekly Legal Insider newsletter Email* Submit

An 18-year-old Norwich man who police say was involved in recent violent clashes between young people from New London and Norwich was arrested on the eve of Wednesday's much-discussed football game between New London High School and Norwich Free Academy.

Joseph Desir, 18, of 18 East Pratte St., was taken into custody at his home Tuesday by Norwich Police and charged with second-degree breach of peace and first-degree criminal trespass. Arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant obtained by Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police, he is being held by tribal police in lieu of a $30,000 court-set bond and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday at the Geographical Area 10 courthouse in New London.

Desir had been incarcerated until Friday on charges he fired a gun into a roomful of people at a Halloween party in Norwich, grazing a man in the head. A New London man who attended the party had been jumped and beaten by Desir and his friends, and detectives determined the incident involved members of the street gang "1804," a number that appears to reference the year Haiti won independence from France.

Desir's family posted a $100,000 bond on Friday, the day after New London Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein denied a motion for a bond reduction. He was released on house arrest and was wearing a GPS monitor.

His release coincided with Norwich Free Academy's decision to reschedule the annual football game with New London High, billed as the oldest high school football rivalry in the country and previously played on Thanksgiving, from Wednesday night to Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 and to beef up security under the threat of a violent clash between street gangs from the two cities.

According to Mashantucket Police Chief William D. Dittman, police allege in the arrest warrant served Tuesday that Desir, who was banned from the casino following his involvement in a New Year's Day melee, returned to the casino on October 27 and was involved in another altercation.

The New Year's Day melee at the casino also involved young people from Norwich and New London and resulted in a stabbing that left one man in critical condition. Due to his alleged participation in the fight, Desir was subsequently ejected and banned from the casino, which is common practice, according to Dittman.

Mashantucket Police investigator Michael Bouchard alleges in the arrest warrant served Tuesday that Desir and several others were involved in a physical altercation in the Grand Pequot Casino concourse at 1:10 a.m. on October 27. After reviewing surveillance video of the incident, and with the help of detective Kevin Wilbur from the Norwich Police Department, Desir was identified as a participant in the fight and was seen throwing punches at an unknown male, according to the warrant.

Security staff responded to the fight, and Desir and the others ran into two different directions, startling people in the hallways who had to quickly get out of their way, according to the warrant.

Chief Dittman said by phone Tuesday evening that more arrests are expected in connection with the October 27 altercation.

"There is a great working relationship between the Norwich Police and Mashantucket Police," he said.

k.florin@theday.com