The family of a Louisville woman is calling for a man’s arrest after they say he followed her through traffic and attacked her while her one-year-old daughter was inside her vehicle.
Tenaya Stanford’s family and friends gathered Saturday outside Louisville Metro Police Department headquarters, demanding action after investigators identified the man they say was involved in the Sept. 30 incident.
Stanford said the confrontation began while she was driving with her young daughter. According to the family, the motorcyclist followed her, blocked her in traffic, and eventually got off his motorcycle before confronting her outside the vehicle.
She said tearfully about the incident, “I did nothing to him. I don’t know him. He was being hateful toward me. And of course, I have to defend myself at the end of the day.”
Partial video of the confrontation has circulated on social media. WLKY reported that it reviewed the footage but did not air it because the station had not received permission to broadcast it.
The video appears to show a man striking the young woman with an object in the middle of a roadway before swinging her around as she appeared to fight back.
During a news conference, Councilmember Tammy Hawkins described what she said happened while Stanford, 20, stood behind her.
“He grabs her by her hair, rips her out of the driver’s seat and drags her into the roadway,” Hawkins said. She said the man then used a heavy metal steering wheel lock to repeatedly strike Stanford in the middle of the street.
Stanford’s aunt, LeAndrea, said the family believes the potential charge being considered does not adequately reflect the circumstances, particularly because Stanford’s daughter was in the vehicle.
“She’s 20 years old. She’s a Black female that should be charged as a hate crime,” LeAndrea said.
Friends who watched the video also defended Stanford, saying they did not believe she provoked the confrontation and calling for accountability.
“I know my friend. She’s not going to provoke a situation,” Asia Gatewood said.
Louisville Metro Police initially documented the incident as harassment involving physical contact, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said officers responded to the scene, spoke with Stanford and began gathering information about what happened.
The department said investigators later obtained surveillance footage that captured the incident and conducted additional interviews. Police also said they positively identified the other person involved, although they have not publicly released his name.
The department said the initial officers who responded did not know about the video that later spread online. LMPD has pushed back against suggestions that officers ignored the case, saying detectives have spent additional time collecting evidence, identifying those involved and consulting with prosecutors about possible charges.
A major issue in the case is Kentucky law governing misdemeanor arrests. LMPD said officers generally cannot arrest someone for a misdemeanor they did not personally witness unless certain exceptions apply.
“In other cases, such as this one, a warrant must be issued,” an LMPD spokesperson said, explaining that officers need a warrant to make an arrest for a misdemeanor they did not directly observe.
Police said the department has been working with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office to determine what charges may be appropriate based on the evidence collected so far. The investigation remains active.
The incident has also drawn attention from Louisville officials. Hawkins called for an investigation and urged people to report information that could help authorities. She also warned that stress, anxiety and rushing can contribute to dangerous road encounters.
“Think about not only what you’re doing or what somebody else is doing but what you’re doing as well,” Hawkins said. “Get to where you’re going without any type of violence.”
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also condemned the violence, as reported by KTVB 7. “Violence is never the answer to any dispute, and there is no excuse for physically attacking another person,” he wrote.
Stanford’s family said they plan to continue pressing police and prosecutors for accountability as investigators determine whether to file additional charges. Friends and relatives say their primary concern is getting justice for Stanford and ensuring the incident receives the attention they believe it deserves.