Louisville Doctor Charged With Strangulation After Fighting Teens Over Social Distancing

A police officer wearing a facemask offers directions to a motorist as people in a row of cars await Covid-19 testing near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on April 7, 2020, as Los Angeles County officials say the number of coronavirus cases has reached 6,910 with a death toll of 169. Frederic J. Brown/AFP

A doctor in Louisville, Kentucky, was arrested on strangulation charges over a brawl with teens who were not following social distancing measures.

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said it was alerted Monday to a video showing teens being berated by a man who shoved them and then put his hands around a girl’s neck, authorities told WLKY.

The incident is believed to have occurred Friday evening.

The man was identified as John Rademaker, a local physician. The police department said he was arrested Tuesday and was charged with three counts of harassment with physical contact and strangulation, according to the station.

“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,” LMPD said in a statement, reported WAVE.

Baptist Health officials told WLKY that Rademaker is with an anesthesia group and was placed on administrative leave.

“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,” said Baptist Health.