16 Year Old Was Rescued From A 61 Year Old Man When She Used A Hand Gesture She Learned On Tiktok To Signal Abuse

16 Year Old Was Rescued From A 61 Year Old Man When She Used A Hand Gesture She Learned On Tiktok To Signal Abuse

16-Year-Old Was Rescued From A 61-Year-Old Man When She Used A Hand Gesture She Learned On Tiktok To Signal Abuse Bored Panda Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app Continue in app Continue in browser Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories Please enter email address By submitting email you agree to get Bored Panda newsletter. We respect your privacy. We will not publish or share your email address in any way. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Are you leaving already? Are you sure you want to post this? We're asking people to rethink comments that seem similar to others that have been reported or downvoted this warning is a mistake x x Let's fight boredom together! Continue with Facebook Continue with Google or Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error()"> Become a member Sign Up Have an account? Login Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Password reminder Please provide your email address and we will send your password shortly. Send Have an account? Login Don't have an account? Sign Up Get our top 10 stories in your inbox: Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Please enter your email to complete registration Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Activate to continue Your account is not active. We have sent an email to the address you provided with an activation link. Check your inbox, and click on the link to activate your account. I have already activated my account Resend activation link We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here. Agree Bored Panda iOS App Available on App Store Continue in App Bored Panda Android App Available on Google Play Continue in App By using our services you agree to our use of cookies to improve your visit. You can change your preferences here. Agree BoredPanda Login Add Post Search ArtPhotographyAnimalsFunnyTravelIllustrationComicsDIYGood NewsParentingChallengeAsk Pandas More Featured Trending Latest Newsletter The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. Bored Panda 16-Year-Old Was Rescued From A 61-Year-Old Man When She Used A Hand Gesture She Learned On Tiktok To Signal Abuse Home Partnership Advertise Success stories Jobs About us Contact 161points 1.5K Creepy, People11 months ago

16-Year-Old Was Rescued From A 61-Year-Old Man When She Used A Hand Gesture She Learned On Tiktok To Signal Abuse

Jurgita Dominauskaitė and
Saulė Tolstych
Thousands of children go missing every year. Only last year, 365,348 children were reported missing and that's only in the USA. They might have decided to run away themselves, or they could have been injured, abducted or killed. Most of the time, children are rescued and returned to their homes. A story of a girl being rescued is now going viral in the media as the teenager was seen showing a hand sign popularized on TikTok meaning that she was in distress and that is how the police were informed about a possible crime.

A 16-year-old girl showed a hand gesture she learnt from TikTok meaning she was in danger and someone actually recognized it and called the police

Image credits: Riley Turns out, it was an actual crime. A 61-year-old man named James Herbert Brick from Cherokee, North Carolina was arrested by Laurel Sheriff's Lieut. Chris Edwards along with Detective Robert Reed on Thursday afternoon, November 4. The police officers were dispatched to check on a suspicious Toyota passenger car. The person who reported the car "was behind the vehicle and noticed a female passenger in the vehicle making hand gestures that are known on the social media platform TikTok to represent violence at home – I need help – domestic violence. The complainant advised 911 that the female appeared to be in distress. In addition, the complainant noted that the vehicle was being driven by a male subject." Image credits: Laurel County Sheriff's Office The person behind the Toyota was following it to keep the police updated about where it was as they were traveling on a highway. When the police noticed the car, they stopped it and they found out that the teenager was actually reported missing on Tuesday, i.e. two days prior, by her parents. The girl told the investigators that the man took her to his relatives in Ohio, but when the relatives found out she was underage and she was reported missing, James Herbert Brick left Ohio and went south.

When police stopped the car they found out that the girl was reported missing a couple of days prior

Image credits: Chris Heald During this journey from Ohio, the girl started to carefully attract the attention of the person riding behind them. It is not said what sign the teenager showed, only that it was widespread on TikTok and that it represents a cry for help because of domestic violence. And apparently, the kidnapper didn't notice anything suspicious. Earlier this year, Bored Panda drew attention to a hand sign created by The Women's Funding Network meaning that a person is experiencing domestic violence and is asking for help, so many guess that the girl was showing that hand gesture. It was actually designed to be discreet and to be able to alert others that you are in distress without making any sounds or noticeably moving. Image credits: Canadian Women's Foundation

The sign the teenager was showing was most probably the one created early last year by the Women s Funding Network to indicate domestic abuse that increased during the pandemic

Image credits: Canadian Women's Foundation If you are not familiar with the sign, it is actually very simple, but distinctive. You face the palm towards the other person, tuck your thumb inwards, and then cover it with your other fingers. The sign was created in April of 2020 as during the pandemic, a lot of people who relied on workplaces or shelters to hide from their abusers couldn't do that anymore and were forced to stay in a place they didn't feel safe. So the Women's Funding Network worked with the Canadian Women's Foundation to spread awareness about a hand gesture that would possibly alert another person to report domestic violence to the police. Image credits: Canadian Women's Foundation

The man was charged with unlawful imprisonment and accused of possessing footage of minors portrayed in a sexual manner

Image credits: Canadian Women's Foundation It seems that the hand gesture expanded its meaning from just signaling domestic violence to indicating distress in general. And it's safe to say that the Women's Funding Network campaign was successful as there is a real story proving how it saved a life. And it's not an exaggeration, because no one really knows what could have happened to her if a random person wouldn't have recognized the hand gesture. The Laurel County Sheriff's Office reported that "During the investigation, deputies also located a phone in the accused possession that allegedly portrayed a juvenile female in a sexual manner." So James Herbert Brick was arrested for "unlawful imprisonment – first-degree; possession of matter sex performance by a minor over the age of 12 but under age 18 – first offense."

Here is an example how the gesture can be used in action

Image credits: Canadian Women's Foundation Have you heard about this hand gesture? Do you feel like it is actually useful and more people should know about it? Tell us your reactions in the comments!

Here are some of the reactions people had after hearing about the story

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Share on Facebook Jurgita Dominauskaitė Follow Unfollow Jurgita Dominauskaitė Writer, BoredPanda staff Jurgita is a content creator at Bored Panda. She studied Lithuanian Philology and Italian Language, but it was not enough to feed her hunger for knowledge so she also got a Master’s degree in Translation.

She is a positive and hard-working panda. In her spare time this panda likes to read, learn new languages and go for long walks. Her favorite writer is Umberto Eco and she will trade bamboo for strawberries. Read more » Saulė Tolstych Follow Unfollow Saulė Tolstych Author, BoredPanda staff Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature. Read more » Show All Contributors Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Download Bored Panda app! You May Like Bartender Shares How She Deals With Unpaying Customers, And The Internet Is Congratulating Her On Her Good Problem-Solving Skills Gabija Palšytė Amazon Driver Says Manager Asked Him To Finish His Route Before Heading To The ER, Goes Viral With 177K Views Saulė Tolstych 16 Y.O. Daughter Disappointed With Her Father As He Did Not Invite Her On His New Family's Paris Vacation, Gets Called A Jerk Monika Pašukonytė Popular on Bored Panda Woman Shows How "Harry Potter" Characters Were Supposed To Look According To Book Descriptions (35 Pics) 50 ‘Weird Facts’ About The World That Might Give You A Fresh Perspective Overworked Employee Quits Because He Wasn't Getting A Fair Wage, Costs The Company $40 Million 40 Embarrassing Moments People Didn't Know Who They Were Talking To And Made A Fool Of Themselves 30 Of The Most Hectic Homes As Shared On 'The Broke Agent' Instagram Account Bride Doesn't Include Wedding Dinner Price In Her Wedding Invites, Is Surprised To See Many Guests Canceling On Her After They Find Out Woman Shows How "Harry Potter" Characters Were Supposed To Look According To Book Descriptions (35 Pics) 50 ‘Weird Facts’ About The World That Might Give You A Fresh Perspective Overworked Employee Quits Because He Wasn't Getting A Fair Wage, Costs The Company $40 Million Add your comment POST Monika Rhodes Monika Rhodes Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago The ammount of disgusting comments from some people is troubling... 67 67points reply Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Some of the comments printed with the thread are bizarre. She wasn't in the trunk, the kidnapper wasn't young. Didn't those commenters read? 24 24points reply Load More Replies... Stannous Flouride Stannous Flouride Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago This comment is hidden. Click here to view. I believe you spelled "Can't" in the last sentence wrong. -12 -12points reply Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago *cough cough PJ Sherwood* 0 0points reply Autumn Autumn Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Some of those comments are really disgusting and unsympathetic. If she did get in the willingly it was probably the result of grooming. It's not these people's business to belittle her experience and victim blame her like this. 60 60points reply Jo Choto Jo Choto Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago There's always the ones that just have to blame the victim. 28 28points reply Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Pj Sherwood needs to CHILL 1 1point reply Load More Replies... Load More Comments POST Monika Rhodes Monika Rhodes Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago The ammount of disgusting comments from some people is troubling... 67 67points reply Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Some of the comments printed with the thread are bizarre. She wasn't in the trunk, the kidnapper wasn't young. Didn't those commenters read? 24 24points reply Load More Replies... Stannous Flouride Stannous Flouride Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago This comment is hidden. Click here to view. I believe you spelled "Can't" in the last sentence wrong. -12 -12points reply Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago *cough cough PJ Sherwood* 0 0points reply Autumn Autumn Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Some of those comments are really disgusting and unsympathetic. If she did get in the willingly it was probably the result of grooming. It's not these people's business to belittle her experience and victim blame her like this. 60 60points reply Jo Choto Jo Choto Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago There's always the ones that just have to blame the victim. 28 28points reply Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Chloe *Leah* Pheonix Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 11 months ago Pj Sherwood needs to CHILL 1 1point reply Load More Replies... Load More Comments Popular on Bored Panda I Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life 30 Y.O. Woman Takes DNA Test For Fun Only To Discover Her Long-Term Boyfriend Is Her Full Sibling "I Just Said Thank You And Left": Man’s Nice Gesture Is Praised After Pizza Hut Driver Got A $20 Tip On A $938 Order Woman Flabbergasted At Thrift Store's Prices, Calls Them Out By Sharing 14 Examples 50 Parents Having A Pretty Miserable Day Photoshop Troll Who Takes Photo Requests Too Literally Strikes Again, And The Result Is Hilarious (17 Pics) Popular on Bored Panda 40 Embarrassing Moments People Didn't Know Who They Were Talking To And Made A Fool Of Themselves 30 Of The Most Hectic Homes As Shared On 'The Broke Agent' Instagram Account Bride Doesn't Include Wedding Dinner Price In Her Wedding Invites, Is Surprised To See Many Guests Canceling On Her After They Find Out I Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life 30 Y.O. Woman Takes DNA Test For Fun Only To Discover Her Long-Term Boyfriend Is Her Full Sibling "I Just Said Thank You And Left": Man’s Nice Gesture Is Praised After Pizza Hut Driver Got A $20 Tip On A $938 Order User Submissions The Best Microscopic Photos From The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition 2022 (92 Pics) I Am So Passionate About Creating Mystical Art, Here Are Some Of The Magical Notebooks I Have Made (23 New Pics) 30 Comics About Making It Through Life While Fighting Mental Health Issues By This Artist “I Own An Official Nanosecond”: 35 Rare Items Owned By Our Community I Photographed This Ukrainian Village Because It Is My Solace That Inspires Me (38 pics) By Changing His Lifestyle And Eating Habits At Age 60, Steve Ramsden Has Successfully Lost Over 60 Lbs And Now Has A Body Of A Bodybuilder Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories Subscribe Please enter email address Also on Bored Panda The Best And Worst Transformations Seen During School Reunions, As Shared By These 30 Internet Users Employee Maliciously Complies To Work Only His 8 1/2 Hours, Makes The Company Lose $85k Per Year I Used AI To See What These 30 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life, And Here's The Result (New Pics) Dad Overhears A Conversation Between His New Wife And His Son, Cancels The Mother’s Day Celebration He’d Planned 23 Y.O. Son Tells His Parents He’ll Never Speak To Them Again After Finding Out They’re Paying For Sister’s Education Yet Didn’t Pay For His European Is Shocked To Learn How American Suburbs Work, Goes Online To Ask Some Accurate Questions People Are Roasting Airbnb For Getting Completely Out Of Hand, Here Are 30 Of The Most Savage Tweets 50 Times Teachers Hung The Funniest Signs In Their Classrooms And They Ended Up Being Praised Online “I Felt So Shaken Up”: Woman Leaves Family Trip After Eavesdropping On Husband’s Conversation With Mother-In-Law 50 People Who Are Having A Terrible Day At Work Employee Laughs In Boss' Face For Saying It's "Unethical" To Make Plans After Work, Takes The Case To The Director 32-Year-Old Independent Modern Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society (30 New Pics) Employee Gets Told They're "Replaceable", So They Play Along And It Ruins The Company "An Entitled Mother Insists That I 'Share' My Nintendo Switch With Her Child On My Flight" Woman Goes Viral With 7.7M Views When She Shares That Her Date Called Her An Uber To Go Home After He Saw How She Was Dressed 30 Mistakes Made By Designers And Architects Who Didn’t Think Of The Person Who’d Be Using Their Designs Woman Buys Ex-Hoarder's Home With All Of Their Belongings, Spends 4 Years Cleaning When Relatives Start Demanding Heirlooms They Didn't Want "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Employee They Disrespected 50 Times People Spotted Stupid Design Decisions In Public Places And Just Had To Share 50 Times Signs Were So Funny, People Had To Share Them On This Facebook Page Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Management Introduces Disciplinary Rules To Make Most Of Employees, Freaks Out When They Turn The Rules Against Them This Online Group Is Dedicated To Things That Are Inexplicably Satisfying, Here Are 50 Of The Best Ones (New Pics) "Lost In History": 50 Pictures That Shed A New Light On Our Past Also on Bored Panda 50 Times Signs Were So Funny, People Had To Share Them On This Facebook Page 50 People Who Are Having A Terrible Day At Work 50 Parents Having A Pretty Miserable Day 50 Times People Spotted Stupid Design Decisions In Public Places And Just Had To Share European Is Shocked To Learn How American Suburbs Work, Goes Online To Ask Some Accurate Questions 50 Times Teachers Hung The Funniest Signs In Their Classrooms And They Ended Up Being Praised Online "Lost In History": 50 Pictures That Shed A New Light On Our Past “I Felt So Shaken Up”: Woman Leaves Family Trip After Eavesdropping On Husband’s Conversation With Mother-In-Law Employee Gets Told They're "Replaceable", So They Play Along And It Ruins The Company I Used AI To See What These 30 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life, And Here's The Result (New Pics) Employee Laughs In Boss' Face For Saying It's "Unethical" To Make Plans After Work, Takes The Case To The Director Management Introduces Disciplinary Rules To Make Most Of Employees, Freaks Out When They Turn The Rules Against Them The Best And Worst Transformations Seen During School Reunions, As Shared By These 30 Internet Users 32-Year-Old Independent Modern Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society (30 New Pics) Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Photoshop Troll Who Takes Photo Requests Too Literally Strikes Again, And The Result Is Hilarious (17 Pics) This Online Group Is Dedicated To Things That Are Inexplicably Satisfying, Here Are 50 Of The Best Ones (New Pics) People Are Roasting Airbnb For Getting Completely Out Of Hand, Here Are 30 Of The Most Savage Tweets "Never Come Back To My Restaurant": Chef Bans Rude Restaurant Patrons And Gives $1,350 Bill To 22 Y.O. Employee They Disrespected 23 Y.O. Son Tells His Parents He’ll Never Speak To Them Again After Finding Out They’re Paying For Sister’s Education Yet Didn’t Pay For His Woman Flabbergasted At Thrift Store's Prices, Calls Them Out By Sharing 14 Examples 30 Mistakes Made By Designers And Architects Who Didn’t Think Of The Person Who’d Be Using Their Designs Woman Goes Viral With 7.7M Views When She Shares That Her Date Called Her An Uber To Go Home After He Saw How She Was Dressed Employee Maliciously Complies To Work Only His 8 1/2 Hours, Makes The Company Lose $85k Per Year Follow We're also on Instagram and tumblr App Store App Store User Submissions Hey Pandas, How Often Do You Forget Something Important, And What Was The Result? 34replies 21 points Hey Pandas, Share Pics Of Your Halloween Decorations 3comments 23 points This Artist Continues To Create Amazing Logic-Challenging Photo Manipulations (70 New Pics) 5comments 32 points Hey Pandas, What's Something You've Made Yourself? (Closed) 6comments 29 points I Created My Own Dark Tarot Deck Featuring Creepy Creatures And Demons (78 Pics) 16comments 52 points This Artist Reimagines Brazilian States As Video Game Characters (22 Pics) 9comments 30 points Hairstylist Shares 30 Women Who Took The Risk Of Cutting Their Hair Short And Got Awesome Results (New Pics) 75comments 50 points Hey Pandas, What Is The Weirdest Name For A Human You've Ever Heard? (Closed) 80replies 21 points Artist Creates Adorable Images Of Dressed-Up Animals With References To Star Wars, The Hobbit And More (44 Pics) 23comments 59 points "An Amazing World Right Under Your Nose": 24 Pictures Of Nature That I Took With A Macro Lens 7comments 43 points Get the App App Store App Store Google News © 2022 Bored Panda
Share:
0 comments

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Minimum 10 characters required

* All fields are required. Comments are moderated before appearing.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!