Conn. youth basketball coach allegedly hit parent with car after post-game argument

A Connecticut girls’ youth basketball coach is facing several charges after hitting someone with his car Saturday morning, Connecticut State Police said.

Troopers responded to reports of a collision at the Horace Porter School in Columbia, Conn. after Bryan Baez-Rivera, 29, of Willimantic, Conn., allegedly intentionally ran into the victim as he was leaving the parking lot following a verbal altercation, State Police said in a press release. The victim was identified as a parent from the opposing team, according to CT Insider.

A surveillance video released by State Police shows the victim approaching Baez-Rivera’s car and walking in front of his path on the road. Baez-Rivera reported that he was not able to avoid a collision, but the video shows that he “appeared to make no attempt to avoid striking the victim,” State Police said.

Baez-Rivera then left the parking lot and drove to a nearby business, where he reported his location to troopers and waited for them to arrive. He also reported that he left the parking lot out of concern for the safety of himself and his passengers, which included minor children, the press release said.

After speaking with troopers, the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release.

Baez-Rivera is charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor and one count each of second degree breach of peace, second degree assault, and second degree reckless endangerment.

Following his release from custody on a $5,000 bond, Baez-Rivera is scheduled to appear Jan. 23 in Rockville Superior Court, State Police said.

Due to the involvement of two minors, the Department of Children and Families was advised of the incident.

Connecticut crime records reveal that Baez-Rivera was previously convicted in Danielson Superior Court on five occasions between 2016 and 2020. Among his prior charges is a Class D felony charge for criminal violation of a civil protection order. Baez-Rivera’s five-year jail sentence was suspended after 90 days, followed by 972 days of probation.

The case remains under investigation, but there are no further updates as of Thursday evening, State Police said.

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