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Winter Garden police release video showing arrest of cheer coach accused of molestation

Vigiland D’Haiti, 39, Sunday on a warrant out of Lake County

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Winter Garden police released the body camera video Friday from the officers who arrested a cheerleading coach accused of molesting children.

Officers arrested Vigiland D’Haiti, 39, Sunday on a warrant out of Lake County on multiple counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on victims aged 12-15 years old. Video of the arrest  — which can be viewed above — shows D’Haiti cry as he is being taken into custody.

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D’Haiti is co-owner and head coach of Rush Allstars, as well as a Pop Warner Nationals judge and a high school choreographer, according to the World Cheer Center website.

Clermont police said they were made aware of the allegations in January 2022 and victims have come forward to describe incidents that allegedly took place as far back at 2013.

During a news conference this week, Sgt. Erin Razo with the department said three victims have come forward so far, one who was 14 years old and the other two who were 15 years old at the time an incident occurred.

Clermont cheerleading coach arrested, accused of molesting children, police say

Razo said D’Haiti has not worked at the gym since they received the complaints and that the allegations occurred at the gym’s location.

In addition to coaching at Rush Allstars, D’Haiti has coached at several other gyms in the Central Florida area and beyond, including high schools, police said. Orange County Public Schools also released a statement confirming D’Haiti is a teacher in the district. The statement reads:

“The district does not comment on personnel matters. We take all allegations very seriously and the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. There is currently an open internal investigation for Vigiland D’Haiti by our office of Professional Standards. He was placed on administrative leave from Cypress Creek High School back in January, pending the outcome of the investigation and has not been on campus since that time. Mr. D’Haiti is a teacher and was hired on August 22, 2005.”

Clermont police urge any other individuals with information about D’Haiti, or additional victims, to come forward.


About the Author
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Thomas Mates is a Streaming Executive Producer for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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