Connecticut Basketball Coach Runs Over A Parent After A Game

A New England youth basketball coach is facing criminal charges after authorities say he intentionally ran down a parent with his car following a game in an incident that was caught on camera.

Bryan Baez-Rivera, 29, of Willimantic, Connecticut, was arrested over the weekend on charges including two counts of injury to a minor, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree assault, and second-degree reckless endangerment, according to Connecticut State Police.

Troopers responding to a report of a crash involving a pedestrian at the Horace Porter School in the Connecticut town of Columbia just before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday were flagged down by multiple people in the parking lot, state police said.

The victim, who reportedly suffered a broken nose and a concussion in the crash, among other injuries, told troopers that they had been attending a girls’ basketball game at the school earlier in the morning and were involved in a verbal altercation with the visiting team’s coach.

“The victim reported that they attempted to approach the coach’s vehicle in the parking lot, to which the coach intentionally ran into them, causing them to go over the roof and hood of the vehicle before falling onto the ground,” state police said in a statement.

While troopers investigated at the scene, Baez-Rivera is said to have called state police to inform them that he was stopped at a nearby business and would for their arrival.

Baez-Rivera confirmed to troopers that he was coaching and involved in an altercation with a parent after the game, but claimed the individual was chasing after him and ran in front of his car.

“Baez-Rivera reported that as he was leaving the parking lot, this individual began chasing him on foot. Baez-Rivera reported that this individual walked in front of his path of travel and that he was not able to avoid a collision,” state police said. “Baez-Rivera reported that multiple people then began to chase after his vehicle, and he left the property out of concern for his own safety as well as his passengers, which included minor children.”

Troopers later reviewed surveillance video and determined that the parent “did in fact approach Baez-Rivera’s path of travel,” however, “Baez-Rivera appeared to make no attempt to avoid striking the victim,” according to state police.

Baez-Rivera has since been released on a $5,000 bond.

He is due in court on January 23.