PHOENIX — Former NBA player Mike Bibby is facing sexual abuse allegations from a teacher at the Paradise Valley school where Bibby coaches the boy's basketball team.
Phoenix police told ABC15 Monday that they were recently made aware of allegations involving staff at Shadow Mountain High School.
"As of now, the investigation is ongoing and no suspect has been named, nor any charges recommended," Phoenix police said.
The alleged victim filed a restraining order against Bibby on February 22, 2019, in reference to an incident that happened on February 22, 2017.
In the paperwork, the teacher says she was outside with several coworkers when Bibby pointed at her from his car and asked her to come talk. When she approached the car, Bibby allegedly got out and picked her up, forcing her into the vehicle on her back. The woman says Bibby smelled of alcohol as he touched her inappropriately and said sexually explicit things to her.
"Michael, number one, is not a drinker. When I say that, I mean he has a drink once a month, maybe. He’s not a drinker. He certainly never drinks when he’s going to coach 3 o’clock sessions," said Bibby's attorney, Donald Harris. “It just doesn’t make sense, and the drinking, it just doesn’t happen. No way in the world that Mike Bibby would show up to practice with alcohol on his breath, with those kids, that’s not Mike Bibby.”
The alleged victim says she managed to get out of the car, but Bibby followed her toward the school, and once again grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. The woman reported that she told Bibby to stop several times before she was able to get away and go into a private room.
The victim says days after the incident, Bibby asked her to tell the athletic director of the school that everything was okay between the two of them. She says she did tell the AD that in 2017, before filing the restraining order this week.
“Look at the two-year timeframe, nothing is brought up in two years?”
Bibby has been ruled ineligible as a volunteer coach while police and the district investigate, according to a district spokesperson.
Paradise Valley Unified School District released an initial statement, saying:
At PVSchools, our first priority is always the safety and well-being of our staff and students. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and work in cooperation with law enforcement on all police matters. In addition, PVSchools adheres to its own internal policies and protocols as established by the Governing Board.
On February 14, 2019, PVSchools was notified that the Phoenix Police Department opened an investigation into alleged sexual abuse/harassment of a Shadow Mountain High School staff member by the boys head basketball coach, Mike Bibby. At the request of the Phoenix Police Department, the District’s internal investigation was suspended pending the conclusion of the Police Department’s active investigation into the accusations.
PVSchools conducts thorough background investigations for all employees and volunteers, including a notarized criminal affidavit, background check, and fingerprint clearance.
PVSchools will continue to fully cooperate with the Phoenix Police Department on the investigation and will provide the police with any support requested. As this is an ongoing police investigation, any additional questions about the case should be referred to the Phoenix Police Department.
They released a second statement regarding their knowledge of the alleged sexual assault on February 28, stating:
PVSchools did not receive a complaint from the alleged victim until a copy of the Injunction Against Harassment was delivered on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. Prior to Feb. 25, school and district administrators unequivocally had no knowledge and were not informed of the alleged incident in 2017.
PVSchools received third-party information on Feb. 11, 2019. As part of the initial investigation, a meeting was set with the alleged victim. The alleged victim canceled the meeting scheduled for Feb. 13. A subsequent meeting scheduled with the SRO on Feb. 14 was also canceled by the SRO. At that time, the Phoenix Police Department directed PVSchools to suspend our internal investigation until their active investigation is complete. At this time, the police investigation is still active.
Bibby starred at Shadow Mountain High School playing basketball, before playing for the University of Arizona.
He was then drafted second in the 1998 NBA draft and played for six different teams before retiring.
