By James Wood and Ashley Wiebe

Local doctor charged with sexual assault

Aug 17, 2017 | 8:46 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A doctor in Medicine Hat has been charged by police after allegedly sexually assaulting a person living with a disability.

According to a news release issued by the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS), the investigation into Dr. Ian Gebhardt began after an alleged incident in June of 2017. The alleged incident took place at a walk-in clinic, when a man was in for an examination.

The MHPS Family Crimes Unit looked into the matter and have laid two charges against Gebhardt in consultation with the Crown Prosecutor’s Office.

55-year-old Gebhardt is facing one charge of sexual assault and one charge of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.

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“We as a community always have to be concerned when there’s any sort of sexual assault,” said Inspector Joe West. “As far as the profession is concerned, again, I think these are very isolated incidents and I think our physicians deserve and get a great deal of trust and I don’t think there’s any reason to doubt the trust of our phsycians out there.”

Dr. Gebhardt has been released from custody by way of a Judicial Interim Release (JIR) bail hearing and is due in court September 14, 2017.

Inspector Joe West said officers are not aware of any other victims but say they will investigate any claims that are made.

“Certainly given the circumstances that these allegations are centered around, we’re concerned that there may be other patients with similar allegations,” he said. “They’d certainly be part of our investigation and we need to know that information.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-529-8481.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).