Coach Charged, Details Emerge in Manatee High School Case

Prosecutors charged Roderick Frazier, a former Parent Liaison at Manatee High School, with a total of ten misdemeanors on Friday pending the results of an extensive investigation that began in early February, according the Bradenton Police Department.

Frazier, of 1900 block of Fourth Avenue West, Palmetto, is charged with seven counts of battery and three counts of interfering with student attendance after he allegedly groped several female students and three co-workers at Manatee High School over a seven-year span. He also reportedly summoned students out of class for social purposes.

Frazier, a former football star at Manatee High and the University of Florida, also coaches running backs for the Hurricanes in addition to his position at the school. Frazier could not be reached for comment on Monday and his attorney did not return calls. 

School officials are urging the community to withhold judgment at this time. On Monday, Superintendent Rick Mills issued a statement saying, “The Manatee district takes these charges extremely seriously, however, the district clearly acknowledges the fact that Mr. Frazier is innocent until proven guilty.”

According to court documents, the students alleged that Frazier would brush his hand against their backside as they walked by, grab their buttocks during hugs that one victim described as “uncomfortably long,” or give their behinds a quick smack all while on school grounds, according to the report.

On one occasion a teacher walked into a classroom with the door closed and found Frazier with a student sitting his lap eating cake, the report states. The student told an officer at the Bradenton Police Department that he pushed her off as soon as the teacher walked in. 

Fraizer also reportedly met with the student one evening at Sutton Park, in Palmetto, for a “late night chat,” the report states.  Their get-together reportedly ended with Frazier giving her a long hug while grabbing her buttocks.

Following an altercation at school, one victim said Fraizer kissed her neck and pulled her pants down below her waistline to “check her out and make sure she was okay,” according to the report.  She told authorities that Fraizer also asked her to put on a “show,” or have sexual intercourse with another person and allow him to watch, the report states.

Another student said Frazier made her feel uncomfortable by “giggling” while staring at her breasts. She said he also tried to give her an “awkward, not normal” shoulder and back massage during an after school activity.

Several students also alleged that Fraizer would take them out of class so they could “hang out” with him in his office. In addition to the female students, Fraizer would also invite football players to keep them company. The students said they would not discuss education or disciplinary topics during these occasions, which were for social purposes only.

Frazier also allegedly harassed some of his female coworkers.

One victim said she had just started working at Manatee High School when Frazier ran his foot up her leg in a sexual manner while she was training. She said she told her supervisor she thought it was inappropriate.

Frazier allegedly smacked a new teacher on the buttocks right in front of her boyfriend during the school Christmas party, the report shows. She told authorities she was afraid she would lose her job if she told anyone.

An administrator said she was in the teacher’s lounge saying she wanted coffee when Frazier came up to her, explaining that he wanted coffee too while pulling on her scarf and brushing her breast area with his hand. She reportedly informed him not to touch her or violate her personal space and said he has not treated her the same since the incident occurred.

Frazier has been on paid administrative leave since February 8.  According to school officials, The Manatee District was engaged in an investigation of  Frazier prior to the Bradenton Police Department’s, but suspended the investigation to prevent interference, according to Mills.

Mills said that investigation will resume in order to determine whether Frazier will be terminated beginning Tuesday and be handled by Troy Pumphrey, the Manatee District’s new Investigator in the district’s Office of Professional Standards.

“As the public should expect, the standards of professional conduct set for employees of the Manatee County School District are higher than the standards set by criminal law,” Mills said. 

Michael Barber, spokesperson for School District of Manatee, said that Frazier doesn't necessarily have to be found guilty to be terminated. 

"It depends on whether or not we feel he meets our standards for continued employment," Barber said.

Barber said that prosecutors have not filed charges against four school administrators who police allege tried to cover up the allegations against Frazier, including former school investigator Debra Horne; Assistant Superintendent Bob Gagnon, previously the principal of Manatee High; and assistant principals Gregg Faller and Matthew Kane, both of whom supervised Frazier. 

"If the state attorney's office decides to press charges, then we will investigate," Barber said.