VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Eyewitness News uncovered more reports of violence involving a Volusia County dentist. Tuesday night, an 85-year-old woman said she had to bite the dentist to get free from him.
BOARD OF DENTISTRY REPORTS: #1 | #2 | #3
Dr. Michael Hammonds has been suspended for performing an improper root canal, failing to provide proper dentures to a patient, and then in 1997 he was sentenced to 33-months in prison for 10-counts of tax evasion. His license is currently active, but people WFTV spoke with want to know what exactly is going on in his office.
Aniseto Morales and his wife went to Elkcam Dental back in November after a crown they paid $1,300 for broke. They say the dentist office would not fix the work that was only a few months old. And the couple claims they were suddenly attacked by Dr. Hammonds.
"He came running out like a maniac, grabbed him by the neck and, I'm scared," said Gladys Morales, patient's wife.
WFTV spoke with another person who said he was verbally assaulted by the dentist and then pushed out of the office, while he was on crutches.
Neither incident had enough evidence to warrant criminal charges, but they have all come forward after they saw what happened to 85-year-old Virginia Graham.
Deputies arrested Dr. Hammonds after he and Graham apparently got into a fight over work he had done on her dentures and she left with bruises.
Staffers were inside the dentist office Wednesday, but they would not talk to WFTV and it was closed for business.
Another man who showed up had only rave reviews.
"I kind of laughed when I saw this, because I just can't see this man doing this," said Jonny Thompsen.
But the Morales' could not believe it when they heard they were not alone in how they were treated.
"I never had any experience like this, in a dental office or any professional. They are very unprofessional in this building," said Morales.
Dr. Hammonds currently faces a false imprisonment charge and assault and battery on a person older than 65.
Previous Stories: May 25, 2011: Cops: Dentist Arrested After Fighting Patient Over Dentures
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