
A Connecticut youth basketball coach was arrested after allegedly striking a parent with his vehicle following a heated argument after a girls’ basketball game. The incident occurred on January 9 at Horace Porter School in Columbia, prompting concerns over safety at youth sports events.
The coach, identified as 29-year-old Bryan Baez-Rivera, was leading the Windham girls’ basketball team when a misunderstanding between players during the postgame handshake escalated into a verbal confrontation between Baez-Rivera and a parent. Witnesses reported that the argument continued into the school’s parking lot, where the situation quickly turned violent.
Surveillance footage captured Baez-Rivera accelerating his white sedan toward the parent, throwing the individual onto the hood before they fell to the ground. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where a child rushed to help the injured parent while others attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle.
Baez-Rivera later contacted law enforcement, claiming he fled the scene out of fear after several individuals began chasing his car. He told authorities the parent stepped into his path, making it impossible to avoid the collision. However, after reviewing the video, police concluded Baez-Rivera made no effort to avoid hitting the individual.
The coach was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. Baez-Rivera was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on January 23. The Department of Children and Families has also opened an investigation.
Adding to the controversy, it was revealed that Baez-Rivera has a felony record, raising serious questions about how he was allowed to coach young children. Local officials have not confirmed whether background checks were conducted before he took on the role.
This incident has reignited calls for stricter regulations and safety measures in youth sports programs, especially regarding thorough background checks to ensure the safety of players and their families.