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Police have arrested a doctor on multiple charges of sexual assault, charging that he sexually abused three patients in his Clinton office.
Tory Z. Westbrook, 43, of Glastonbury — recently appointed an administrator at the Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford and husband of Superior Court Judge Dawne Westbrook — turned himself in after learning that police had obtained three warrants for his arrest.
Each warrant charges him with at least one count of second-degree sexual assault. He also faces a charge of fourth-degree sexual assault, Clinton police said.
Westbrook is accused of sexually assaulting three female patients at the Community Health Center in Clinton during medical appointments from 2010 through January 2012, police said.
In all, Westbrook was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual assault. Police continue to investigate similar complaints about him from other patients, Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn said Tuesday afternoon.
At his arraignment Tuesday at Superior Court in Middletown, Judge Susan B. Handy said that she didn't consider Westbrook to be a flight risk, but because of the seriousness of the charges, she left his bail at $450,000 — $150,000 for each warrant.
The warrants have been sealed, and Middlesex State's Attorney Peter McShane indicated that he would seek to have them sealed permanently.
Westbrook's lawyer, Norm Pattis, said that Westbrook would plead not guilty to the charges.
"Dr. Westbrook is an outstanding physician who has for many, many years given a great deal to the community," Pattis said. "I would ask for people to suspend judgment, not to believe everything they read, don't jump on the bandwagon and give us an opportunity to tell our side of the story. I'm confident that when that happens, Dr. Westbrook will return to the practice of medicine."
Westbrook, a family practitioner, posted bail Tuesday afternoon.
Christopher Morano, the former chief state's attorney who is now in private practice, was at the arraignment and told Handy that he was representing two of the women who brought complaints against Westbrook.
Outside court, he encouraged any other women who had complaints about Westbrook to contact Clinton police. His clients, Morano said, were treated with fairness and respect by police when they came forward.
It is "difficult for women who have to go to doctors for the most intimate of examination," Morano said. "Unfortunately, in this particular case, the trust my clients placed in their doctor was violated, and as a result of that they were severely traumatized." Morano refused to say if the two women were planning civil lawsuits against Westbrook.
Gov.Dannel P. Malloy's office issued a statement about the allegations against Westbrook, saying that Malloy finds the charges "profoundly disturbing" and was taking them "very seriously.''
Last August, Westbrook was appointed as a volunteer to the Sustinet HealthCare Cabinet for a term of four years.
Malloy spokeswoman Juliet Manalan said in a statement, "It is clear that his participation in the cabinet will not help the state move forward to ensure affordable, accessible care to residents. The governor is now reviewing the options around this appointment, including Dr. Westbrook's removal.''
Westbrook also served on the state commission for health care equity.
Pattis, outside court, reacted angrily to Morano's and Malloy's comments.
"I think plenty of people are disturbed at Dan Malloy running his mouth in the face of the presumption of innocence. Which part of the Constitution does he think is optional in this state?" Pattis said of Malloy. "He should be ashamed of himself."
As to Morano, Pattis said that the victim advocate could address the alleged victims' concerns.
