Basketball Coach Accused Of Hitting Pedestrian In Post-Game Fracas In Columbia Enters Plea To Single Charge

COLUMBIA, CT — A girls' youth basketball coach accused of striking a pedestrian with his vehicle after a post-game argument in January 2025 has entered a guilty plea to one of his charges in Rockville Superior Court, judicial system records show.

The incident took place on Jan. 11 outside a school gym in Columbia.

Bryan Baez-Rivera, of Willimantic, who was 29 at the time of the incident, had been facing 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.

Judicial system records show that Baez-Rivera has entered a guilty plea to one of those charges — second-degree assault. His case, records show, has been refereed to adult probation with a return date of May 15.

The case unraveled when state police from Troop K in Colchester were summoned to the Horace Porter School in Columbia at 11:23 a.m. on Jan. 11.

The victim, who police have not identified, was transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries, police said. Before that, the victim was standing in a lane on the school's property at the time of the collision and was conscious and able to be interviewed by police at the scene, according to case records.

There had been a girls youth basketball game at the Horace Porter gym prior to the incident, state police said. The victim reported getting into an argument with the visiting team's coach and then being struck intentionally by Baez-Rivera, police said.

A video released by police shows the victim being tossed onto the vehicle's hood and then falling to the ground.

Baez-Rivera told police the person engaged in a verbal altercation with him and then walked in front of his path of travel, according to case records. Baez-Rivera told state police that he was unable to avoid a collision, according to case records.

Baez-Rivera told investigators that multiple people began to chase his vehicle, and he left the property out of concern for his safety and for the safety of his passengers, which included minor children.

Police said they reviewed surveillance footage and concluded that Baez-Rivera "appeared to make no attempt to avoid striking the victim," according to case records.

Baez-Rivera has posted a $5,000 bond in the case.