Kendall volleyball coach jailed for inappropriately touching teen girl on team, cops say

A volleyball coach at a Kendall charter school has been accused of inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl he coached.

Carlos Cruz Concepción, 31, was arrested Wednesday after the teen, a student at BridgePrep Academy of Village Green in Kendall, said he “inappropriately touched her genital area, over her clothing on several occasions in 2023,” the Miami-Dade County Police Department said.

The alleged molestation took place at the school, which has students in elementary through high-school levels, according to the arrest report. School officials did not immediately respond to the Miami Herald’s requests for comments.

Police say Cruz Concepción had already been fired from the school, 13300 SW 120th St., for inappropriately messaging students but also coached at Divine Savior Academy and 305 Volleyball Club in Doral.

Alan Obrador — director of 305 Volleyball, which operates out of Divine Savior Academy — said he was “stunned” to find out about Cruz Concepción’s arrest Wednesday night. Obrador said Cruz Concepción passed three background checks and had no criminal history.

Cruz Concepción no longer works for the volleyball club, Obrador said.

“We will be meeting with the parents of his team to check if any girl has any issues or something to say about Mr. Cruz’s behavior while at the club,” Obrador said in a statement to the Miami Herald.

Pastor Carlos Leyrer, president of Divine Savior Academy, told the Herald that Cruz Concepción was only a temporarily contracted employee who assisted during the school’s volleyball season, which ended before his arrest.

“No action was necessary in regards to Mr. Cruz as he was no longer involved at Divine Savior Academy since the volleyball season had concluded several weeks earlier,” Leyrer said.

Leyrer also said the school’s only connection to 305 Volleyball is the club paying to use the gym.

On Wednesday, Cruz Concepción went to the Miami-Dade Police Special Victims Bureau office for questioning and admitted that he touched the teen’s vagina but said it was “accidental.” He was arrested on the spot and charged with molestation of a child.

He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center but was released after posting a $7,500 bond, court records show.

Detectives say additional victims or people with information about Cruz Concepción can call 305-715-3300.

This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 3:35 PM.