VERO BEACH — A longtime doctor suspected of inappropriately touching a job trainee at his practice has at least eight similar accusations against him dating back to 2011, Indian River County sheriff’s officials said. The family-practice physician – identified as Christopher David Olenek – posted bond and was back at work Friday morning, said Sheriff Eric Flowers.
“This is not normal,” Flowers said. “We have hundreds of physicians in Indian River County. Rarely do we have anybody come in and make a complaint against a physician.”
The incident took place inside of East Side Urgent Care, a medical practice owned by Olenek that is located in the 900 block of 37th Place, not far from Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. Flowers said deputies believe there could be dozens of other victims out there.
“A person came forward and advised that during the hiring process, they were touched inappropriately,” Flowers said during a news conference Friday at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “Our team looked back at our records and determined there had been eight prior investigations by the sheriff’s office against Dr. Olenek for similar type cases. These are former employees, people who went in the office for medical care or assistance. They felt as though the doctor was being creepy. This is a serious pattern of bad behavior.”…