Ex-Cooper Employee Charged With Criminal Sexual Misconduct

According to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Tajreed Rich, 41, of Minneapolis has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual misconduct, a felony, for having sex with a minor. The minor is a student at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, where Rich was once employed.

Rich was arrested by Robbinsdale police on Friday, June 7, and is currently in the Hennepin County Jail. No bail has been set and no court appearance has been reported.

According to the criminal complaint:

On June 7, Robbinsdale police officers went to a home after a report of a sexual assault. The father of a 17-year-old female student at Robbinsdale Cooper High School called the police. The father said he returned home unexpectedly around 3 p.m. that day, heard sounds from his daughter's room and went upstairs where he found Rich standing naked over his daughter who was also naked on her bed. The father told the officers he recognized Rich and knew him from school.

Officers spoke to the girl and confirmed she had sex with Rich on two separate occasions: sometime in May and on June 7. 

Officers learned that Rich was employed at Robbinsdale Cooper High School as a hall monitor, staff member of the boys football team and has provided counseling to students. The victim said he had counseled her on relationships with male students. Rich was not a counselor with a counseling license.

Rich admitted to two sexual encounters with the girl. The first incident happened at his home in Minneapolis. Rich described the victim as a "vulnerable adult" and stated he knew better than to have a sexual relationship with a student.