SARASOTA, Fla. – At Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, Sarasota Police said 21-year-old Cobie Bradley was assigned to the aftercare program and at Sarasota High School, he acted as a volunteer.Â
“The role he was in at both of these schools did give him access to these children. You think you send your child to school, and they’re with trusted adults. Unfortunately, that was not the case in these situations,” said Genevieve Judge with the Sarasota Police Department.Â
Sarasota Police said Bradley took advantage of his position.Â
Sarasota Police said their investigation started in September when the parents of a teenage male student from Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences came forward with a disturbing allegation.
The backstory:
An arrest affidavit said a 14-year-old male student from Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences became distraught and did not want to go to school. When his parents pressed him as to why, he told his parents Bradley had inappropriately touched him in a theater lighting class.Â
The affidavit goes on to say that Bradley also took the student’s phone and added him on Snapchat.Â
“Once we started investigating that first victim, that led us to additional victims at other schools,” said Judge.Â
Sarasota Police said in mid-October, several students unrelated to the initial investigation saw Bradley on Campus and told their band director they were uncomfortable with him because he had been inappropriately touching students.Â
At Sarasota High School, investigators said a second student came forward in late October.Â
The victim told investigators Bradley inappropriately touched him two times during band camp in July at Sarasota High School.Â
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“He really, for all intents and purposes, tried to groom these children the way he acted toward them,” said Judge.Â
Investigators said in total three students between the ages of 14 and 15 have come forward, all are males.Â
Bradley faces 3 felony charges.Â
Including 1 count of lewd and lascivious conduct on a victim under 16 and 2 counts of lewd and molestation on a victim under 16.Â
“Unfortunately, the fact that there are 3 victims, we have reason to believe there might be additional victims in this case. Â
Investigators are asking parents to talk to their students.Â
They said the three who came forward displayed true bravery.Â
“They knew something wasn’t right. We hate to see this happen to them, but we give them all the credit in the world to have all the courage and strength to come forward,” said Judge.Â
What they’re saying:
Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences told FOX 13 in an email, “We will not comment on an ongoing investigation.”Â
The Sarasota County Schools said:Â
“Sarasota County Schools was recently notified that an employee of the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, who previously volunteered with the school district, has been arrested. Sarasota County Schools can confirm that this individual was not an active volunteer with the school district at the time of the arrest. Sarasota County Schools maintains zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of our students.
Sarasota County Schools is fully cooperating with the Sarasota Police Department as they conduct their investigation. As this is an active law enforcement matter, all additional information will be released by the Sarasota Police Department.”
What’s next:
Sarasota Police said Bradly is no longer employed with Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences.Â
Bradley was arrested on November 19t. He was given a $75,000 bond. Once bonded out, Bradley is to not have any contact with the victims and can not return to the schools.Â
Sarasota Police say if you or someone you know may have been a victim or have any information regarding this case, contact Sarasota Police Department Detective Maria Llovio at Maria.Llovio@sarasotafl.gov or call 941-263-6836.Â
The Source: Information was gathered through Sarasota Police and arrest affidavits for Cobie Bradley.Â