ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Allegations of misconduct continue to be reported to law enforcement against doctors at Adena Health System.
On Wednesday, the Guardian obtained police reports alleging that two doctors stalked and sexually harassed fellow coworkers.
The Guardian reported earlier this month on accusations against Dr. Gustavo Barrazueta. In a police report, a former employee accused Barrazueta of sending her sexually explicit text messages and grabbing her around the waist without her consent. This week another former coworker of the doctor filed a report claiming similar conduct by Barrazueta.
According to the report, the alleged victim claims that Barrazueta repeatedly texted her phone saying, “I would do such dirty things to you,” and asking the female worker if he left his spouse would she be with him? The victim, in the report, told investigators that the final straw was when the doctor reportedly texted her sexually explicit messages regarding things he would like to do to her. The messages were provided to the Guardian by police but are too graphic to publish, however, one said that Barrazueta wished to “lick” the woman’s anus.
The woman stated that the alleged incident occurred in April of last year but she was fearful that she would be harmed if she came forward.
In a separate police report this week, a former employee accused Neurologist Dr. Alok Singla of stalking her and sexual misconduct. The reportee told law enforcement that Singla allegedly cornered her in an office and began undressing.
“(Dr. Singla) sat down at his desk and unbuttoned his lab coat, his shirt was unbuttoned almost all the way down,” the woman told police. She would go on to claim that the doctor then said they had a lot in common and that both were “going through a divorce” and could “help each other.”
The victim went on to tell the police, according to the report, that the doctor would continue to make unwanted advances and went as far as coming from behind her and rubbing her shoulders and taking pictures of her body. The alleged incidents, the woman said, occurred while she worked in his office from September 2021 to April 2022.
Investigators continued to question the woman who went on to claim that Singla would message and call her personal phone in the middle of the night and would follow her social media accounts. The report, the sheriff’s office said, was submitted to the Law Director for possible criminal charges.
The Guardian obtained court records that show Singla has had previous run-ins with the law. In December 2021, he was arrested for domestic violence. Those charges were eventually dropped.
The victims, along with other recent accusers, say that they reported their incidents to Adena management and claim that no repercussions were ever rendered for the alleged misconduct.
When asked about the allegations, a spokesperson for Adena Health System would only say that they “do not discuss or disclose personnel matters.”
A meeting was held Thursday morning by top executives at Adena with senior staff. In the meeting, the senior staff said they were standing by Singla and Barrazueta, who has surgeries scheduled and that “the incident would blow over.”