WORCESTER, Mass. — A Worcester dentist was arraigned Tuesday on charges that he inappropriately touched a patient in his office.
A woman told police that the incident occurred Monday morning during an appointment she had with Dr. Nikhil Patel.
The 35-year-old woman said Patel inappropriately touched her multiple times during a procedure. When the woman realized what was happening, she told officers she got up from the dentist chair and immediately left the office.
"All I can tell you is my client denies the charges," Dr. Patel's attorney said. "He's married. He has a solid family. He's been living in Shrewsbury for many, many years. He has many ties to this community."
The woman then met with investigators at police headquarters. Patel, a 54-year-old Shrewsbury man, was arrested later that day and charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14.
FOX25 pulled Patel's record from the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services, but there were no violations listed and his license is up to date.
"If she feels -- if something happened, I think it should be looked into," a patient said. "I don't think anyone is going to be confused about something like that."
[ >> READ MORE: See Dr. Nikhil Patel's license status from Health and Human Services ]
Patel was arraigned Tuesday and released on $1,000 cash bail and ordered to stay away from the victim. His next court appearance was scheduled for September 19.
"This is an easy going, soft-spoken guy, well known around the community and I don't believe he did it," one patient said.