Local physician charged with sexual assault of kids in Ontario
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 6, 2021.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews A doctor from Medicine Hat has been arrested in Ontario on charges of sexually assaulting two young children in the late 1980s. Ian Gebhardt was charged Tuesday with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference with a person younger than 14, according to a statement by the York Regional Police. Gebhardt has lived in Medicine Hat and practised family medicine since 2007. In January, York Police began an investigation after a male victim came forward to report he had been sexually assaulted as a young child in 1988 and 1989. Through the investigation, a second victim was located, who allegedly was sexually assaulted by the same suspect during the same time period. The accused was identified and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Tuesday, Gebhardt was taken into custody in the York Region. The 59-year-old faced a local charge in 2017 that he asked a patient to perform a lewd act, but that charge was stayed at trial. After the case was resolved in 2018, Gebhardt reapplied to practice medicine and used a nurse chaperone in the room during examinations. Sources say his office closed recently with no explanation given on a message left on its phone line. Medicine Hat police say they do not have any active or ongoing investigations involving Gebhardt. They encourage any victim of any sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to the police by either attending in person or by calling the non emergency line, 403-529-8481. 11-10
