An aged South Carolina man is dealing with fees after being accused of committing a racially motivated assault towards a Black hospice caregiver, which was caught on digital camera and posted to social media.
John Daniel Rosso, 79, was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery within the third diploma on April 28.
In accordance with a police report cited by The Augusta Press and WRDW, officers arrived on the scene in a residential neighborhood in Aiken earlier that day, the place they noticed 25-year-old Jasmine Thomas with seen bruising on her face.
The licensed nursing assistant informed police that she was driving to work and noticed Rosso, who’s white, parked on the aspect of the highway and talking with a lady strolling her canine. She stated Rosso adopted her down the road and parked behind her after she stopped her automobile exterior the house the place she works.
In accordance with the incident report, he bought out of his automobile, approached her automobile, and commenced banging on her driver’s aspect window. When she rolled down the window, she stated he struck her within the face.
The video Thomas posted to TikTok exhibits Rosso telling Thomas to “Shut up!” earlier than she flees the automobile by means of the passenger aspect, and Rosso follows her into the yard.
She informed police Rosso chased her by means of the yard, hit her once more, then informed her “You don’t belong right here,” and referred to as her a “b—.”
“You executed misplaced your thoughts! You’d higher go on someplace!” Thomas tried to warn the person earlier than the confrontation escalated once more.
After listening to screaming in his entrance yard, the home-owner and Thomas’ employer, Josh Herring, got here out of his residence and intervened.
Herring informed police that Thomas had been working for his household for a while and believed the incident was “provoked by racism.”
Thomas gave police video proof from her cellphone, and Herring additionally handed over Ring doorbell surveillance footage exhibiting the assault.
Thomas informed officers she was afraid Rosso would “kill her and her kids” if he ever noticed them out. She informed native information outlet WRDW that she hasn’t returned to work but as a result of she’s nonetheless working by means of psychological and emotional trauma.
“It’s been scary, although. Each time I shut my eyes, I take into consideration him. I see him in my head each time I shut my eyes. I don’t like being shut in a darkish room anymore. Or if I’m sleeping, there must be some form of gentle the place I can see. I don’t like being in the dead of night. Or generally I cry out of nowhere. Or if I hear one thing loud, I simply leap out my physique. It’s form of scary for actual,” stated Thomas. ”Now it’s like each time I hear one thing loud, it’s form of traumatizing as a result of it’s like, what’s it.”
Josh and Meredith Herring say Thomas has labored with the household for a few 12 months, offering caregiving providers to Josh’s father.
“We fell in love together with her as a result of she takes excellent care of my dad,” stated Josh.
“She’s an excellent trainer … She’s taught me learn how to bathe him, flip him. She’s been nice,” stated Meredith.
Thomas stated she is grateful the couple intervened throughout the encounter and are supporting her as she recovers from the incident.
“Thank God for Josh and Meredith … They’re not gonna make it about them. It’s about us. As a result of had they wouldn’t have been right here, no telling how far it will’ve escalated,” stated Thomas.
Rosso was booked on the Aiken Detention Middle. His bond was set at $1,087.50.
