Bay Area swim coach arrested in child sexual assault case
Tyler Livingston was arrested in connection with crimes involving five boys younger than 10, BPD said. And there "may be more victims."
Berkeley police arrested a children's swim instructor on Thursday in connection with sexual assault allegations against "a number of young victims," authorities said.
Details were slim, but police identified the suspect as Tyler Livingston, a 25-year-old Emeryville man.
"While the investigation into these cases is still ongoing, we recognize that there may be more victims that have not yet come forward," Berkeley police said in a brief statement.
Scroll down for updates to the story.
"Livingston has worked as a swim instructor in the Bay Area over the past few years and may have spent some time as a substitute teacher," police said. "BPD wants victims and their families to know that they are not alone and encourage them to contact police."
The investigation began last week, police said, when "several parents … brought forward concerns surrounding their children's interactions" with Livingston.
Police did not provide any specific details about the alleged interactions.
BPD "immediately initiated an investigation in an effort to prevent any further victimization," police said.
Berkeley police arrested Livingston in Emeryville on Thursday morning and served a search warrant at a location associated with him, BPD said.
Police said they were unable to release information about the specific crimes Livingston is alleged to have committed but said more information would be forthcoming after he is booked into jail.
Read more about sex crimes in Berkeley.
BPD did not provide the age or gender of the alleged victims, but said the investigation involved "multiple" sex crimes against "young children."
BPD was also unable to share how many alleged victims had already come forward or where Livingston may have given swim lessons.
Who is Tyler Livingston?
According to his LinkedIn page, Livingston is a small business owner based in Orinda who has offered private swim lessons since May 2021.
Prior to that, he also worked as a youth advocate in Lenexa, Kansas, and was a lifeguard in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, where he went to high school, according to his LinkedIn page.
Livingston has also worked as a psychotherapy group leader, where he "had the privilege of working with young individuals facing a spectrum of challenges," he wrote on LinkedIn. "Whether it's addressing a student's barriers to academic success, helping foster youth remain connected with themselves and their families, or supporting those navigating mental health and substance abuse issues, my goal was to provide clients with resiliency skills and coping techniques."
As recently as June, Livingston was advertising swim lessons on NextDoor.
"Hello! I am a swim lessons instructor and swim team coach offering private swim lessons in East Bay this summer," he wrote. "Please visit my business page below if you are interested."
On his website, Livingston said he started swimming as a child and now has "over 8 years experience instructing students aged 6 months-65 years."
Livingston also wrote that he was "Available to meet at home pools and member pools" in Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Berkeley "and surrounding areas."
As of publication time, Livingston had not appeared in Alameda County's Inmate Locator system, the county's online jail roster, so no information was immediately available about the charges he may be facing.
He has no criminal cases listed in Alameda County Superior Court.
Police ask anyone with information that may relate to their sex crime investigation to call the Berkeley Police Department's Youth Services Unit at 510-981-5715.
Update, 10:20 p.m. According to jail records, Tyler Livingston was arrested on suspicion of numerous felonies including continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation with a child younger than 10, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14 and sexual penetration by force or fear.
He is being held without bail at Berkeley Jail and is scheduled for arraignment Monday.
Update, Friday, July 12: Berkeley police said the allegations against Livingston involve five boys under age 10 from Berkeley and surrounding cities.
During Thursday's search warrant operation, police found evidence "pertaining to the crimes" along with an unregistered firearm and suspected cocaine, BPD said.
A booking photograph has been added to this story.
Note: This story was updated just after publication to include additional details from NextDoor and Livingston's business website.
