News

Kentucky doctor arrested for strangling black teen for not social distancing

A Kentucky physician has been arrested and charged after strangling and injuring a black teenage girl for not observing social distancing during an altercation on Friday. The video of the incident, which shows the doctor and another white woman getting physical with a group of teenagers, was shared on Reddit.

According to WLKY, the incident occurred at around the Norton Commons Amphitheater. In the video, the physician, John Rademaker, can be seen exchanging words with the girls. He then goes ahead to shove them while making his way to confront the black teen who’s lying on the ground. The girl, who appears to be exchanging words with the white woman, is seen being strangled by Rademaker as her friends scream and beg him to get off her.

A witness told the news platform Rademaker and his counterpart confronted the teenagers for not being indoors and observing social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19 as advised. The witness also alleged the two were hostile towards the teenagers and cursed at them to get their points across.

Rademaker was arrested on Tuesday and charged with strangulation and three counts of harassment with physical contact, WLKY further reports. The victim also sustained minor injuries.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Louisville Metro Police Department released a statement calling on citizens not to take the law into their own hands during this quarantine period.

“Obviously, we do not advise individuals concerned about social distancing to take matters into their own hands and confront people about it, especially in any physical way.”

Rademaker’s employers, Baptist Health, also released a statement announcing he has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

“SIAC, a division of One Anesthesia PLLC is aware of the incident that occurred in Norton Commons with one of its physicians, who was not on official call or due to report to the hospital in any official capacity. With that said, the partners of SIAC, a division of One Anesthesia PLLC have decided to place the physician that appeared in the video on administrative leave as of April 5th pending further investigation. Our well wishes extend to all parties involved and we will continue to monitor this situation as new information develops.”

Speaking to WAVE 3, LMPD spokeswoman, Jessie Halladay, also reiterated concerned citizens should handle incidents of such nature in a non-violent and unhostile manner.

“We know people are out there saying, ‘Hey guys, you should probably social distance,’” Halladay said. “That’s one thing, if you’re being polite and it’s your neighbors, we don’t want you to take it into your own hands, and you certainly should never get physical.”

A resident, who also saw the video, called out Rademaker for his handling of the situation and expressed his satisfaction with the police investigating the incident.

“For someone to lay their hands on a child, I don’t care who you are or what they did,” the resident said. “We don’t need this here and it’s ridiculous.”

Francis Akhalbey

A reader once told me I lack the emotional maturity to cope with mythological breasts. I support Manchester United, by the way. And L.A. Lakers.

Recent Posts

‘It felt really scary’ – 14-year-old Nigerian ballet sensation on learning he’s largely blind in one eye

Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…

3 days ago

‘I remember the day when 56 dollars would change my life’: Wayne Brady reveals humble beginnings

Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…

3 days ago

This 1-year-old loves to greet people at Target, so the store hired him as its youngest employee

Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…

3 days ago

Postman drives 379 miles at his own expense to deliver lost World War II letters to a family

Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…

3 days ago

Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed becomes Kenya’s first-ever female air force head

Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…

3 days ago

All Benjamin E. Mays High School seniors gain admission to HBCU Morris Brown College in surprise announcement

Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…

3 days ago

Meet the formerly incarcerated single mom who has gone viral for passing bar exam on first try

Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…

3 days ago

New York attorney accused of hiring hitman to kill Zimbabwean ex-wife sentenced

A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…

3 days ago

Cher, 77, who is dating 38-year-old Alexander Edwards, explains why she dates younger men

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…

3 days ago

11-year-old accidentally shot to death by 14-year-old brother with stolen gun

Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…

3 days ago

16-year-old Ethiopian Hana Taylor Schlitz breaks sister’s record to become the youngest graduate from TWU

The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…

4 days ago

Tahra Grant is reportedly the first Black woman to be Chief Comms Officer at a major Hollywood studio

Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…

4 days ago

How Ashley Fox quit her Wall Street job and built a startup to financially empower those Wall Street would never talk to

Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…

4 days ago

‘It wasn’t worth it’ – Tyra Banks says the first time she drank alcohol was when she was 50

Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…

4 days ago

Brazilian woman who wheeled dead uncle to bank to withdraw his money is being investigated for manslaughter

A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…

4 days ago