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San Mateo High Swim Coach Arrested For Sexual Assault On Student

SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- A swimming coach at a San Mateo high school suspected of sexually assaulting a student was arrested Friday, police said.

Police began investigating Joshua David Tatro, 25, of El Granada last month after a student at Aragon High School told authorities that Tatro had touched her inappropriately.

Attorneys for the victim alleged in a statement that Tatro had been grooming the student and had promised her a Division I scholarship.

Some evidence to arrest Tatro was taken from the student's cell phone, according to her attorneys.

Police said Tatro was taken into custody without incident on Friday and booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of sexual assault on a minor and lewd acts with a minor.

"Athletic directors need to keep a closer eye on the behavior of their coaches and school districts need to do a better job of performing background checks and screening on their employees so that coaches stick to coaching," attorney Robert Allard said.

Tatro has been employed at the school as a water polo and swim coach for the last year, police said.

Prior to being hired at Aragon, Tatro was the water polo captain and MVP for three seasons at Half Moon Bay High School and played water polo at West Valley Community College, according to the student's attorneys.

Anyone with additional information about the suspect or the investigation has been asked to call Det. Genny Altwer at (650) 522-7670.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

 

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