On Saturday, 01/11/25, at approximately 11:23 AM, personnel from Troop K- Colchester responded to the Horace Porter School in the town of Columbia for a reported car vs. pedestrian collision. Upon arrival, Troopers were being flagged down by multiple people in the parking lot.
Troopers spoke with the victim, who reported that there was a girl's youth basketball game which took place at the school earlier in the morning. The victim reported that they were involved in a verbal altercation with the visiting team's coach. The victim reported that 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 onto the ground. Troopers observed visible injuries to the victim, who was later transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
While Troopers were on scene with the victim, Troop K dispatch advised that the other party involved had called and reported their location. They reported to Troop K that they had stopped at an area business and would wait there for a Trooper. The other party involved was subsequently identified as Bryan Baez-Rivera (DOB 07/05/95), of Willimantic. Baez-Rivera reported that he was coaching a girl's youth basketball game and became involved in a verbal altercation with an individual following the game. Baez-Rivera reported that as he was leaving the parking lot, this individual began chasing him on foot. Baez-Rivera reported that this individual walked in front of his path of travel and that he was not able to avoid a collision. Baez-Rivera reported that multiple people then began to chase after his vehicle, and he left the property out of concern for his own safety as well as his passengers, which included minor children.
With the assistance of facilities management, Troopers accessed exterior surveillance footage from the time of the incident. Surveillance showed that the victim did in fact approach Baez-Rivera's path of travel, however Baez-Rivera appeared to make no attempt to avoid striking the victim.
Baez-Rivera was subsequently arrested without incident and transported to Troop K, where he was processed on the following charges:
CGS 53-21; Risk Of Injury To a Minor (2 counts)
CGS 53a-181; Breach Of Peace 2nd Degree
CGS 53a-60; Assault 2nd Degree
CGS 53a-64; Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree
Baez-Rivera was later released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on 01/23/25. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was advised of this incident and this case remains under investigation. Please see the attached video and criminal information summary.
