Youth Basketball Coach Arrested for Hitting Opposing Team Parent with Car

A youth sports coach in Windham, Conn., was arrested after he was caught on camera arguing with and running over a man with his car after Saturday night’s game. Bryan Baez-Rivera, coach of a youth girls’ basketball team, was leaving a game at Horace Porter School when the argument with a parent ensued.

In the video, Rivera can be seen entering his vehicle and then driving toward the man he had been arguing with. According to WFSB, police said, “the victim reported that they attempted to approach the coach’s vehicle in the parking lot, at which point the coach intentionally ran into them and caused them to go over the roof and hood of the vehicle before falling onto the ground.”

NBC Connecticut reported that the man had non-life-threatening injuries. 

Rivera called the police himself to report the incident after he had fled the area with his children in the car.

Randolph Rickets, owner of New England Officiating Services and Development, told WFSB, “When it comes to basketball, things shouldn’t end that way. We use basketball to have fun, and to see two individuals that are indirectly not involved in the game is very unfortunate.” 

Following the incident, the town of Windham plans to stop Rivera from working in its sports programs. The town manager said in a statement, “While we are still sorting through the situation, my understanding is that Mr. Baez-Rivera has been dismissed from participating in, and barred from attending, any Town of Windham Recreation Department events and programs.”

Windham also reported to conduct background checks on all coaches and workers in the city’s youth programs. Officials did not confirm whether or not Rivera passed or completed a background check. 

Rivera was released on $5,000 bond, and he was charged with risk of injury to a minor, breach of peace and reckless endangerment. His first court date regarding the incident is Jan. 23.