Rene
Boucher, a Bowling Green doctor, was arrested and charged with fourth-degree
assault.
Paul has rib fractures, lung contusions after apparent
assault
By DON SERGENT
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has five rib fractures and lung
contusions as a result of an apparent assault Friday by a neighbor at Paul's
home in Bowling Green, a spokesman for Kentucky's junior senator said Sunday.
Senior adviser Doug Stafford said Paul's injuries cause
pain that could persist for weeks, perhaps even months, but that the Republican
plans to return to the U.S. Senate soon.
“Senator Paul has five rib fractures including 3
displaced fractures," Stafford said in a statement emailed to the Daily
News by Paul's staff. "This type of injury is caused by high velocity
severe force. It is not clear exactly how soon he will return to work, as the
pain is considerable as is the difficulty in getting around, including
flying."
Rene Boucher, 59, a Bowling Green doctor, was arrested
Friday and charged with fourth-degree assault after an incident at Paul's home
in the gated Rivergreen community just east of Bowling Green.
Boucher, 582 Rivergreen Lane, was released Saturday night
from the Warren County Regional Jail on a $7,500 bond, according to online jail
records.
The arrest warrant in the case indicates that Paul told
police that his neighbor came onto his property and tackled him from behind,
forcing him to the ground and causing pain. According to the warrant for
Boucher's arrest, Paul had injuries to his face and had trouble breathing due
to a rib injury.
"Senator Paul and Kelley appreciate everyone’s
thoughts and well wishes and he will be back fighting for liberty in the Senate
soon," Stafford said in his statement Sunday.
A news release from Kentucky State Police Post 3 in
Bowling Green said troopers were called to the Paul residence at 3:21 p.m.
Friday.
According to the release, Boucher was arrested by Trooper
Bartley Weaver and charged with assaulting Paul, who has been Kentucky’s junior
senator since 2011.
Boucher is a Bowling Green anesthesiologist and pain
specialist who developed a product called Therm-a-Vest, a cloth vest partially
filled with rice and secured by Velcro straps that is designed to relieve back
pain by delivering heat directly to the areas of the back where most pain is
felt.
Boucher applied for a patent for the vest in 2003 and has
marketed it through the QVC shopping channel.
An arrest warrant for Boucher was issued through the
Warren County Attorney’s office. The charge of fourth-degree assault is a Class
A misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail. Warren County Attorney Amy
Milliken said further charges could be brought, based on the extent of Paul’s
injuries.
The investigation by Weaver is continuing.
