But when somebody comes up to you like this, [clears throat] >> what are you doing? >> Gentlemen, where were you today when thousands of people were touching me and coming after me with no masks and their hands all over me? >> Only Cams provides body cam footage for transparency and educational purposes only. On June 6th, 2020 in Shorewood, Wisconsin, a Black Lives Matter protest moved through North Oakland Avenue. Stephanie Rapkin, a 64year-old probate attorney, parked her car across the roadway, blocking the march. As protesters moved past her vehicle, tensions escalated on the sidewalk. The very next day, a student used chalk on the sidewalk outside Rapkin's home to protest her actions, and Rapkin confronted the student. What happened next was captured on cell phone video, a moment that would shock the community and draw nationwide attention. Who called? >> Who's the one that called? >> She called. Okay. What's going on? >> We witnessed him. We had on video. >> Okay. >> She came out. She was trying to engage. She pushed him. >> Okay. >> Physically and it was it was a hard slap push. >> Okay. >> Has it on video? We have >> we have other witnesses. >> This is the part where >> I'm sorry, >> but when somebody comes up to you like this, >> what are you doing? >> I am doing >> obviously you didn't consent to her doing that to you, right? >> Absolutely not. >> Are you willing to be a complaintant about this? >> Absolutely. >> Be a complaintant. >> Yeah. >> Meaning you you want to be a victim. >> You want to file charges? I'd like to talk to a lawyer first, honestly. >> Okay. So, you want to consult with the lawyer before you want to be >> sweetie. File charges. She assaulted you. The only way you're going to stop this is by filing charges. You can get an attorney to represent your interests, >> and that's fine, but you're still a victim. >> Did you get hurt? >> I didn't see anything. Are you in pain? >> I'm not in pain. I was for a little bit when she slapped me on the chest, but it was more just like shock that she actually did that. >> Just so that way I can get your statement, can we just talk across? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Kyle. Hey, Kyle. >> So, I know I was still here for a little bit after. >> Um, I saw her walk up to you guys. obviously didn't see that, but nobody flagged us down or called us back after we were sitting over there for a little bit. >> Mhm. >> So, after she came out after we left, what did I know you have it on video, but what was the what happened? >> So, she basically just stumbled across her grass >> and she was just walking all over the chalk and um >> we entered a conversation and I asked her like like how can you justify spitting on a child who's peacefully protesting and she was like, "He assaulted me." Mhm. >> And I was like, "Man, there's a video where it's very obvious that he did not assault you." >> Okay. >> And she she was standing near her house. You could see her walk up to me as I started the video. >> And she said, "No, if someone laid their hands on you like this, what would you do?" Or something like that. >> Um, >> okay. >> And then right after that, what did she do? >> Right after that, I said, "You just assaulted me." And she just went like this. I don't know what that means. >> Did you record that part, too? >> Yeah. Okay. Do you mind if I see that? >> Yeah. I have a whole minute video. >> You don't mind if I can see it? >> Yeah. >> Doctors need it though. It's even worse that you spit on a toe. >> Seriously, >> what do you have to say about spitting? >> N95 masks during a pandemic when our doctors are dying. >> You record anything? >> Oh, we have proof. >> Oh, you have proof. You know, you people is incredibly stupid. It isn't funny. >> You spit on a 17-year-old kid. >> I spit on a man who attacked me. >> He did not attack you. How did he attack you? >> How you admitted it on video? >> I I admitted it to him, too. And I said I was sorry, but when somebody comes up to you like this, >> what are you doing? >> What are you doing? >> What the hell are you doing? Are you insane? >> Explaining how you just put your hands on me. That is a song right there. >> Wow. I just got that on video, man. >> You are bat crazy. >> You have your ID on you? >> I just got to grab your name. >> Yeah, >> it's um Thank you. >> Joseph Freriedman. >> Yep. >> Okay. Just want to make sure I got it right. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Who was it that she pushed? >> Okay. She both hand push or how? >> Yeah. Well, she smacked her hands into me. Okay. And then pushed me. >> So, she struck you and pushed. Yes. Okay. So, it's battery DC. >> All right. We're going to go hook her up. >> That's your friend. >> Who else witnessed this? >> I will talk to a witness and >> those four over there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We got to make sure we get all their information, get a statement from there. Witnesses across the street. >> Talk to them as well. Okay. >> If you want to I grabbed his statement. He's right here. >> Um and then we can just go over A scale of 1 to 10, how much pain did you feel when she struck you? >> Probably like a four or five. >> Four or five. >> Okay. And you don't want any medical attention or anything? >> No. >> Okay. What's your name? Damn all stand coming. turned all her lights off. She live with somebody. >> No, not that I know of. >> Stephanie, it's the police. Please come to the door. No, she turned all her lights off at this. >> There's just the one, but you got to pry open that screen door. >> Yeah, it's just that Yeah, just that one goes right. Is it just this one door to get in right here? >> To the front? No. No. There's a back door and this door here. >> But there's no other door connecting from the front to I don't see anything. >> No, there's two doors. >> This one might be easier. >> And she only has one bedroom up there. >> Well, you can see through that back window. >> There's she's not all the lights are off. So if she So if she's there, it's upstairs that >> that walkway. I'm just trying to get in. Remember the doors? The back doors? It's going to be closer. >> So do you want to open that screen? Huh? >> Probably open the screen door. Stephanie, it's police. If you don't come out, we're going to come in and check your welfare. >> Stephanie, last chance to come to the door. >> I'll be all traffic in a moment. 500 West. [snorts] >> STEPHANIE, POLICE. Call police. >> I was in here yesterday. know that we were making entries well for this time. >> The kitchen is right to the left here. >> There's stairs >> to the left. >> Stairs on the other side that we There's a basement off the kitchen right here that goes all the way down. >> Okay. >> So, just push up >> and then we'll check the basement first. The stairs that'll go around. >> I got the kitchen. I'll hold stairs. >> I got it. >> Yeah. >> Ready? I'm behind you. >> We just hold that. Someone's got to come with me cuz we're clearing the basement first. >> Okay, cool. >> You got her. All right, you guys. Stephanie. >> Yep. >> She's I can't hear her upstairs. >> Show police department. >> Well, just hang on. Let me >> Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Stephanie, stay right there. >> You got her. >> She We can hear her. >> We can hear her. >> She said, "What's going on? It's police department." Stephanie, we're going to do a welfare check on you. That's the problem. Are you coming down the stairs? >> No, I'm not really dressed. >> Okay, >> we're coming off. >> Yep. Stephanie, why don't you come here? We're here to check on you and we don't know what's going on >> cuz we were just here. >> You're not responding. >> You're not responding to our phone calls. We're ringing the doors. We got people We got people saying that you've been taking multiple sleeping pills throughout the day. >> I haven't taken pills. >> Stephanie, come here. Just come here. Just come down the stairs. Show me your hands while you come down. Come down. Come on. >> I am just fine. I had to turn off the phone because all I'm getting is threatening calls 24/7. I >> Why don't you Why don't you strap that up so that way it doesn't fall? >> Who's here from Julia? >> 24. >> Come over here. Have a seat right here. >> Gentlemen, do you have a warrant? >> We're here for a community caretaker. Okay, >> community caretaker. I'm perfectly fine. I am sleeping. The phone is off because there are thousands of harassing and threatening phone calls and emails. I can't have the phone on anymore. I'm going to go back to sleep. >> How many sleeping pills have you taken? I took no sleeping pills. >> Well, we have a neighbor that said that you took a couple sleeping pills. Have you taken Have you taken it? >> Take Who would tell you that? >> Yes or no? >> NO. I TOLD YOU FIVE TIMES I TOOK NO sleeping pills. >> Okay. So, you're telling me you didn't hear us banging on your doors for about 20 minutes? >> I was sound asleep. >> Okay. That's hard to believe, ma'am. >> Okay. Well, I'm sorry. It's hard to believe. >> Well, you can't go back upstairs. Let's go. >> Come over here. She needs to check you. >> Come over here, Stephanie. Turn around for her. >> Put your hands behind your back. Thank you. >> You're going to arrest me in my own home? >> No, don't don't start. Don't start. >> I got it. Yep. I got arrest >> for sleeping in my own home. >> No. For assaulting an individual officer. >> Oh, I didn't assault an individual officer. >> Calm down. >> If you grab my arm, >> calm down. >> If you grab that arm, Stop resisting, ma'am. >> I am not resisting. >> You are. If you're pulling away, you're resisting. That's enough. >> Stop pulling away. >> That's enough. >> LET GO OF MY ARM BEFORE I I have an injury. >> Okay. Well, relax and we'll readjust. Relax. Relax. >> What? >> Relax for him. >> No, I can't. >> Just very easy. Just stop pulling away. >> Turn your hand. Turn your hand. >> I just talked with you last night. >> I can't turn my HAND AND I CAN'T SURV. >> WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? RELAX. RELAX. OKAY. WELL, YOU don't need me in my groin. You understand me? What is wrong with you? >> Stop. >> Did you strike? >> Yes. >> Battery to an officer. There we go. >> Let's go. We're going outside. >> I got it. >> You're hurting me. >> If you're Hey, wait. Hold on. Hold on. If you don't get up, I'm going to carry you. So, get up or you're going to be dragged. >> Well, then you >> turn around. Nope. Turn around. >> Walk this way. >> Yep. >> Turn right. And then we're going to walk back. Yep. Just turn. >> Yep. Like this. >> YOU'RE HURTING ME. >> ALL you got to do is walk. It's very simple. >> I can't. >> Great. You broke open my door. >> Careful. Be careful. Careful. >> Yep. I got you. >> We got squad. One right there. You got >> You're hurting me. >> You're hurting me. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Get in. >> We're not playing the game. Cool. >> Get her out. We'll search her around. >> Yeah. [applause] >> Tell him to come on. Rapkin was booked for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer, battery to law enforcement officer. Medical personnel assessed her and confirmed she had taken only a single benadryil that morning. She was transported to the Milwaukee County Jail. >> You calm down now? >> No. >> So, you're not going to comply with me? >> No. >> All right. That's all I need to hear. This officer right here from Whitefish Bay has to search you. Make sure you don't have any weapons or anything on you. All right. She's going to search you against this wall. Just [clears throat] face the wall. Spread your feet for us. Spread your feet a little bit more. A little bit more. There you go. >> You don't You don't have any pockets in here or anything like that? >> I have pockets. pockets and the in real quick. >> Nothing in them though. >> No, >> just your pajamas. >> Yes. >> Okay, just triple checking. All right. >> In April 2023, Rapkin stood trial for the spitting incident. She claimed self-defense, saying she felt threatened by the crowd. The jury rejected her explanation. She was found guilty of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. At sentencing, the judge offered probation and 100 hours of community service. She was sentenced to 60 days in the Milwaukee County House of Correction. >> I was perfectly fine. I told you I was perfectly fine. >> The problem is when we call you and we're calling your phone, >> your phone is turned off because of the harassment. >> While serving her sentence, Rapkin pursued a federal civil rights lawsuit against the village of Shorewood. Her claim officers entered her home without a warrant, violating her Fourth Amendment rights. >> Gentlemen, do you have a warrant? We're checking. >> We're here for a community caretaker. Okay. >> Community caretaker. I'm perfectly fine. >> In November 2024, the court ruled in her favor. The vill's insurance company agreed to pay her $760,000. It became one of the largest civil rights settlements in Wisconsin history for a case with no physical injury. Stephanie Rapkin's story is a legal paradox. She faced criminal consequences for assaulting a minor and resisting police. Yet, she walked away with a significant civil settlement due to procedural errors by law enforcement. Her law license is now suspended. Her career in law effectively ended. She won a fortune from the system, but lost her reputation in the process. >> I lock the door. >> What began as a single viral moment on a sidewalk became a lasting reminder >> in the justice system. Accountability and error can exist side by side and both carry consequences. If you like content like this, please like and subscribe.