3 /5 Michelle Cohl: Subject: Urgent: Assault Incident at LA Fitness on November 6, 2025
Dear LA Fitness Corporate Team,
I am writing to formally report a disturbing incident that occurred at your Troy-Big Beaver facility on November 6, 2025, between 5:10 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Incident Summary
Upon entering the gym around 5:10 p.m., I followed my normal routine: a short session in the sauna, followed by approximately 11 minutes on the treadmill. Due to complications with my knee (which was braced), I moved to the training area to perform rehabilitation exercises prescribed by my physical therapist.
During this time, an unknown male member – a tall white male with medium-length shaggy hair – spoke loudly to me after I finished performing wall squats with a stability ball and was putting the ball back. While on the ropes, he commented, “That’s an underutilized move.” I replied briefly, and we both moved on.
After my dead bugs, I then located a 6-lb medicine ball to perform pelvic thrusts for knee rehabilitation.
As I lay on my back preparing to begin, medicine ball in between my knees/thighs in a very vulnerable position, this same man suddenly appeared beside me looming over me—uninvited—and snatched the medicine ball from between my bent knees, saying he wanted to show me a “better move for my abs.”
This frightened me. I was on my back on the mat, listening to music, when all of a sudden a strange male comes, leans over and grabs something from between my legs! And I can only assume this man was watching me do my dead bug exercises to inquire about a “better” ab exercise. Plus, where he grabbed this ball was incredibly close to my private area for him to be venturing without consent.
Despite me saying, “No, I’m not doing those types of—,” he cut me off, stated that the ball was “too light,” and without consent dropped it on my stomach. This knocked the wind out of me. Shocked, I again told him “No, I’m not trying to do that,” attempting to explain that I was rehabbing my knee – not doing ab workouts. Before I could finish, he again said, “Now you’re prepared, so when it happens again,” and dropped the ball a second time onto my stomach, once again knocking the wind out of me, to apparently show me this awesome ab move.
While yes, my abs clenched – great workout? – at this point, I froze/fawned – my typical trauma response – and could only say again that I was not doing that exercise. He replied “OK, OK,” and walked away. I was left stunned, tense, and violated. This man touched equipment between my legs, ignored my verbal refusal, and struck me twice in the abdomen without consent. To top it off, I did not hear him coming up to me as I had headphones in.
Immediate Action Taken
After leaving the gym around 6:10 p.m., I immediately called the facility and spoke with a woman who identified herself as the general manager. After explaining what happened and describing the individual, she told me she believed she knew who he was, that what happened was not OK, and that she would “talk to him.”
While I appreciate that acknowledgment, this response is completely unacceptable. This was not a misunderstanding or simple breach of etiquette – it was a physical assault.
Requested Action
I am requesting that the following steps be taken immediately:
1. A full incident investigation and review of security footage from the training area between 5:10–6:15 p.m. on November 6, 2025.
2. Immediate suspension and/or revocation of the offending member’s access pending investigation.
3. A written incident report shared with me documenting your findings and actions taken.
4. Notification to local law enforcement of the assault, as this individual poses a potential danger to other members. (What if I was pregnant? What if I have internal problems from a medicine ball being dropped on me?)
5. Confirmation that steps are being taken to ensure my safety and privacy at your facility.