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.
Christopher Olenek PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
“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.”
Olenek, 62, of the 1000 block of Mangrove Lane, Vero Beach, was charged on Thursday with battery. Olenek was released the same day from the Indian River County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The age of the victim in the recent case, along with other identifying information, was not publicly released. Sheriff’s officials on Friday released Olenek’s heavily redacted arrest report.
The recent incident occurred about noon July 1 in an examination room at Eastside Urgent Care. The trainee contacted sheriff’s officials two days later to report she had been battered by Olenek.
The trainee said she went to the urgent care for a job shadowing opportunity.
The trainee met with Olenek, who instructed her how to run an electrocardiogram. Olenek asked the trainee to remove her shirt, gave her a small covering and fondled her upper body, reports show.
At one point, Olenek reached down into the trainee’s pants and fondled her, reports show. The trainee told deputies she froze, felt unable to move and was traumatized.
Sheriff’s Det. Chad Sharpeta spoke to Olenek about the allegations. Olenek told Sharpeta that his actions “were within the normal scope of his duties as a physician.”
“(Olenek) wouldn’t take ownership of what happened. He had no idea why these women would come forward and single him out specifically,” Sharpeta said. “The evidence shows differently.”
Deputies discovered Olenek had eight reported accusations of sexual harassment and battery against him since May 2011. Sharpeta said because the acts took place in the examination room, which is meant for privacy, that rules out witnesses and surveillance footage that would’ve captured the acts.
“Prosecuting those other cases and finding evidence is very difficult,” Sharpeta said. “This case is a little bit different because we have a little bit more to go off of. We’re also utilizing the Williams Rule, which allows us to talk to those other victims and witnesses, establish similar facts (motive, intent, opportunity) in order to reinforce what has happened in this case.”
Olenek was issued a license to practice as an osteopathic physician in March 2000 at his office in Vero Beach, according to the Florida Department of Health. The doctor’s license was still active as of Friday afternoon.
Those who feel they might have been a victim of Olenek should contact the sheriff’s non-emergency number at 772-569-6700.
“Anybody who has experienced anything at that office that is strange or unusual, we want to hear about it,” Flowers said. “Det. Sharpeta is available. Please call into the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and let them know it’s in reference to Dr. Olenek. We will make sure we follow up on any leads.”
