CONTENT WARNING: If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit their website at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You can also text HOME to 741741 for free 24/7 crisis support.
Former Rio Salado head swim coach Bob Chen, who took his own life at a gun range on Sunday, was arrested 2 days prior amid a child prostitution sting.
According to multiple sources in Arizona, Chen was arrested Friday night after allegedly arranging to meet with an underage sex worker via an app. The app wound up being a spoof app, created by law enforcement, to catch potential predators.
This sting was part of a “Buyer Reduction’ operation carried out by the Mesa Police Department, the East Valley Human Trafficking Task Force alongside the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Tempe Police Department, and the Scottsdale Police Department. They made a total of 18 arrests during the two-day operation, mainly for adult prostitution.
Chen later told colleagues he had second thoughts after arriving at the meetup point and left. But law enforcement was able to track his phone and arrested him anyway. His exact charges are unknown, but they were felony charges, and he was released from custody with an ankle cuff, a curfew, and a parole officer.
That night he was supposed to have farewell dinner with friends and colleagues as he was leaving for California soon where he had accepted a coaching position at Santa Clara Swim Club, closer to home. He disappeared for nearly 24 hours, David Tait, the owner of the Rio Salado Swim Club, told SwimSwam over the phone.
After Chen’s release from custody on Saturday, he told one of his colleagues what had happened. The colleague’s immediate question was whether Chen had harmed any children in or outside of his coaching career. Chen said no, denying having ever had sex with a minor athlete or harming children otherwise.
He admitted to engaging in regular prostitution and claimed this was his first attempt at underage prostitution.
“It was clear at that point that Bob was suicidal,” Tait said.
On Saturday, Chen’s colleagues took away his keys and all of the known weapons from his house in an effort to prevent him from harming himself before driving him home.
Then, they let Tait know what had happened and he reported Chen’s arrest to SafeSport authorities as soon as possible.
On Saturday evening, his colleagues left Chen in the care of his parents. However, he was able to use a spare car key that no one knew he had and drive to an indoor gun range in Tempe on Sunday, where he shot himself.
An email was sent out Sunday evening to the families about Chen’s suicide, but they were not ready to share the arrest details at the time.
Counselors were brought in to meet with families of Chen’s team at both the Rio Salado Swim Club and Chandler High School Tuesday evening. “Our efforts switched to ‘we gotta get resources and support for the kids,’” Tait said.
The details of Chen’s arrest were shared with team parents that night and they were encouraged to talk to their children about it and utilize the volunteer counselors on deck. This, Tait explained, was “first and foremost because if there is anyone else that he has harmed, [they] need to know.”
Coaches across the Phoenix area were notified of the arrest in case any victims came forward.
“We have no reason to believe that Bob has harmed any children,” Tait said. “But we are trusting that that could be-we know that there could be something else.”
A call by SwimSwam to USA Swimming on Wednesday for more information about whether the investigation will continue was not returned. But, Tait confirmed that the team and coaches will continue to talk.
“We’re going to continue to talk and follow up on any leads and keep SafeSport involved,” he said.
Chen’s last day with Rio Salado was August 1st, after which he planned to move to California to start his coaching position at Santa Clara Swim Club. He served as the Rio Salado head coach since August 2015 and had been coaching on the team since 2010.
The team held a farewell open house event on Thursday, the day before his arrest, celebrating Chen’s career on the team.
have zero sympathy here.
This situation is tragic all the way around.
I’m not understanding the vitriolic comments toward Rio Salado and USA Swimming. They did all of the right things immediately. They protected kids first. Bob would’ve never been allowed in a swimming facility for the rest of his life.
His colleagues were not shielding him. Law enforcement had already been involved. They, with his parents, did all they could legally do to protect him from himself.
Driving him to the nearest hospital without his consent would’ve been illegal. Bob acted with autonomy all along. No one else is to blame.
It is very unkind to attack his colleagues and their actions. Not a single one of them misunderstood… Read more »
I agree this has been an absolute tragic event that has impacted many lives and it appears the team did what anyone would have done for someone who was a friend and colleague for many many years.
The issue is saying this is a closed case. Anyone who knows the history of Bob knows there was mental breakdowns and issues in the past. What and why did this happen previously? Did it have any implications on the events that lead up to this tragedy? Were there any signs in the previous events that could have suggested something like this might happen? Or had previously happened? These are the things that need to be further investigated from an outside perspective… Read more »
https://www.12news.com/amp/article/news/crime/chandler-swim-coach-died-by-suicide-days-after-child-sex-trafficking-arrest/75-477ff10e-e3cc-4e4f-949b-ba75a927f5cb
Something seems weird. It says he paid for sex with a 24-year-old hooker and a 14 year old for $400
This seems like entrapment – as if he paid for the 24 year old and the cops at the tagged on the 14 at the last min.
Not condoning this, but it’s as if they were trying to take a sting operation for getting John’s and escalating it into pedophiles.
He applied for sex with a 24 year old. Then he was offered sex with a 14 year old child which HE CLICKED ON & ACCEPTED. He went to meet with a 14 year old child for sex but then changed his mind at the last minute & left. But he did willingly get ready, leave his house & drive to the agreed location to meet up with & have sex with a child. He was anticipating having sex with a child. This kids swimming coach made plans & drove to a location to have sex with a child. This was all on him not the cops. The cops on this task force were just doing their jobs & that… Read more »
Things that are bothersome based on required USAS training for anyone over 18: 1. Colleagues took matters into their own hands by taking keys etc. training always says leave it to the professionals trained to handle such situations. They should have called the professionals. 2. USAS didn’t return a phone call. What??? They can’t follow their own rules that they make?
Put your scotch down and read the article again.
All accusations of the deceased aside, if one (colleagues) feels anyone is actually at that point, a normal one (apparently not colleagues) takes that person straight to a major hospital where there is an entire dept dedicated to this. Not to a house, then leave and hope for the best. Again, all accusations of the deceased aside. Maybe the “training” coaches get needs to be reviewed and upped. Cause from where I sit “this” has been creeping around for quite some time (athletes and coaches) and safesport have given it no time. Suicide (teen esp) is something I’ve asked them to address and they simply refuse. Maybe with more exposure and talking about such things these so called “colleagues” in… Read more »
To be clear, USA Swimming didn’t return our phone call. While I wish they would, I don’t believe that answering our questions about SafeSport proceedings is a part of their rules.
What a sad, sad story. Kudo’s to the “colleagues” for doing what they could to help.
EXACTLY what the comment below said – they should have followed USA Swimming procedures – the ones coaches take CLASSES for – they did not do that – they tried to be this persons “friend”
USA Swimming needs to get in here – and more info is needed for the athletes and the families
This person did harm to our sport
This person did harm to our athletes
This is not acceptable
Coaches – parents – teams – we should do what is right!
You sound like you’ve got a personal vendetta. What procedures weren’t followed? Be specific.
Club owner is not the police. Police did their bit, club owner reported to SafeSport immediately.
If you’re going to throw around wild accusations, you better back them up.
what is your problem
He would never do anything to hurt a swimmer or anyone. He was an angel with demons that even I couldn’t see. I hope he is at peace now but I know he was not a bad person, he was just very lost. Rest In Peace coach.
Prostitution of underage kids is NOT a victimless crime.
Never said it was, all I said was my time with him was great and may he Rest In Peace.
Understand what you’re saying, but unfortunately prostitution and that with minors also does qualify as hurting someone, especially in the minor case
There is no text book on how to handle these situations, but it sounds like Rio Salado covered everything with the kids’ well being at the forefront. It will take some time for this community to heal. Very tragic situation.
Do NOT agree with this comment – seems like CYA and they knew more than they told people as this unfolded
USA Swim needs a FULL investigation of this team and process
This coach was traveling with young kids just days prior to this
There can be overlap between “CYA” and “doing the right thing.” Often, “doing the right thing” also “CYA.”
That’s not to say that I don’t think USA Swimming/SafeSport should dig into this further to make sure this story holds up to scrutiny, but…the aggressive way that you claim the club did something wrong just isn’t supported by the facts.
This so inaccurate. And unhelpful to the situation.
What a sad story all around. Kudos to Tait and other colleagues. They seemed to balance well the obligation to keep swimmers safe, make proper notifications, and look out for Chen. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.
Nightmare scenario, for sure. They seem to have had their priorities in order.