COLUMBIA — A man from Willimantic was arrested after an incident at Horace Porter School in Columbia for a reported car vs. pedestrian collision.
When State Police from Troop-K Colchester responded to Horace Porter School at approximately 11:23 a.m. Saturday, Troopers were flagged down by multiple people in the parking lot.
When Troopers spoke with the victim, they reported a girls youth basketball game had taken place at the school earlier in the morning.
According to Troopers, the victim reported they were involved in a verbal altercation with the visiting team’s coach. It was reported they attempted to approach the coach’s vehicle in the parking lot, to which the coach intentionally ran into them, causing them to go over the roof and hood of the vehicle before falling to the ground.
The vehicle’s driver was identified as Bryan Baez-Rivera, 29, of Willimantic.
Troopers observed the visible injuries to the victim, who was later transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
When Troopers were on the scene speaking with the victim, they advised the other party involved had called and reported their location. It was reported to Troop K that they had stopped at an area business and would wait for the Trooper.
Baez-Rivera reported he was coaching a girls youth basketball game and was involved in a verbal altercation with an individual following the game. He reported the individual began chasing him on foot when he was leaving the parking lot.
Baez-Rivera reported this individual then walked in front of his path of travel and he could not avoid a collision. Multiple people began to chase after his vehicle, and he left the property out of concern for his safety as well as that of his passengers, including minor children.
With the assistance of facilities management, Troopers could access exterior surveillance footage from the time of the incident. It was discovered the victim had approached Baez-Rivera’s path of travel. However, Baez-Rivera appeared not to attempt to avoid striking the victim.
Baez-Rivera was arrested without incident and transported to Troop K, where he was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor, breach of peace in the second degree, assault in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the second degree.
He was released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on January 23.
The Department of Children and Families was advised of the incident, and the case remains under investigation.