Youth Basketball Coach Faces Charges After Hitting Parent With Car Postgame

A Connecticut girls’ basketball coach has been arrested after allegedly driving his car into a parent following a postgame dispute. The incident occurred outside Horace Porter School in Columbia and has sparked concern about safety and behavior in youth sports.
Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Bryan Baez-Rivera, a coach for the Windham girls’ basketball team. The conflict reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding between players during the customary postgame handshake, which led to a verbal altercation between Baez-Rivera and the victim.
Surveillance footage shows Baez-Rivera’s white sedan accelerating toward the parent, striking the individual and sending them onto the hood before they hit the ground. Witnesses reported that a child rushed to the injured person’s side while others chased after the departing vehicle.
Baez-Rivera later called police to report the incident, stating he fled the scene out of fear for his safety and that of the minors in his car. He claimed the parent stepped into his vehicle’s path, leaving him unable to avoid the collision. However, police determined through video evidence that Baez-Rivera made no effort to prevent the crash.
Authorities arrested Baez-Rivera on charges including second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace and two counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was released on a $5,000 bond and is expected to appear in Rockville Superior Court on January 23. The Department of Children and Families is also reviewing the case.
Adding to the controversy, it was revealed that Baez-Rivera has a felony record. This revelation has raised questions about how he was cleared to volunteer as a youth coach. Local officials have not confirmed whether standard background checks were conducted.
This disturbing event has intensified discussions about maintaining safety and sportsmanship at youth sporting events. As the investigation continues, community leaders are calling for more stringent safety measures and accountability in youth sports programs.