Louisville doctor accused of fighting teens over social distancing arrested, charged with strangulation.
A Louisville-area physician has been arrested and charged in connection with an altercation at Norton Commons.
Louisville Metro Police Department said Monday that it was investigating after a group of teenage girls shared a video of a man cursing, shoving them and forcing his hands around a girl’s neck.
The man accused has been identified as John Rademaker, a local physician. LMPD said Rademaker was arrested Tuesday and charged with strangulation and three counts of harassment with physical contact.
The incident happened Friday around 8:30 p.m.
One of the witnesses contacted WLKY on Sunday, saying Rademaker and a woman angrily approached them near the Norton Commons Amphitheater.
The victim said that the couple used explicit language to express their disapproval of the teenagers being out while COVID-19 social distancing guidelines are in place.
WLKY obtained a 59-second clip from one of the people involved, showing the man assaulting one girl until a young man runs up and tells him to back off.
A woman is also seen putting her hands on at least one of the girls.
Officers with LMPD Eighth Division responded to the incident.
Sgt. Lamont Washington, with LMPD, released a report Monday. It said that the victim suffered minor injuries.
LMPD officials released this statement:
“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. We ask people who are concerned about large gatherings to call 311 or 911 to report their concerns.”
Viewers identified Rademaker in the video and supplied his employer. WLKY reached out for comment Monday. Baptist Health officials said Rademaker is with an anesthesia group that they contract with and he was put on administrative leave following the incident.
That group released this statement Tuesday:
“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.”
