INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — A physician at an Indian River County urgent care clinic was arrested Thursday following the ninth investigation into allegations of inappropriate touching, prompting law enforcement to seek additional victims who may have experienced similar incidents.
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Dr. Christopher David Olenek, 62, who practices at East Side Urgent Care located at 927 37th Place, was taken into custody on a simple battery charge after a job applicant reported being inappropriately touched during the hiring process, according to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Eric Flowers said the arrest came after reviewing eight previous investigations dating back to 2011 involving similar allegations against Olenek. The cases involved former employees and individuals seeking medical care or other services at the clinic.
"We have hundreds of physicians in Indian River County. Rarely do we have anybody come in and make a complaint against a physician," Flowers said during a news conference on Friday. "For us to have somebody who has eight prior cases and the ninth one that just happened, is very problematic. We believe there are likely dozens of victims that are out there who have experienced similar episodes over at his office."
The sheriff's office said many of the previous cases could not be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations or lack of sufficient evidence. The confidential nature of doctor-patient relationships in examination rooms made it difficult to obtain witnesses or surveillance footage, Sharpeta said.
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During questioning, Olenek maintained his actions were within the normal scope of his duties as a physician and denied wrongdoing, according to detectives.
"He claims that he has no idea why these women would come forward and single him out specifically, but the evidence just shows differently," Sharpeta said.
A witness at the clinic noted suspicious behaviors and described comments Olenek made as "creepy," though she did not witness inappropriate touching directly, investigators said.
Olenek was released on $5,000 bond and returned to work at his clinic on Friday, the sheriff's office said, as the battery charge was a misdemeanor. His medical license has not been revoked.
The sheriff's office is using the Williams Rule, which allows prosecutors to present evidence of similar past incidents to establish patterns of behavior, even if those cases are beyond the statute of limitations.
"We're essentially trying to build a pattern here," Flowers said. "We want to be able to show that this is something that's been going on for some time."
Investigators are asking anyone who has experienced inappropriate behavior at East Side Urgent Care to contact the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office said it plans to share all information with the Department of Health and other regulatory agencies that oversee physicians.
