Dentist faces false imprisonment charge

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DELTONA, Fla., May 26 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a dentist is facing charges including false imprisonment for refusing to allow an 85-year-old patient to leave his office.

Volusia County sheriff's deputies said Virginia Graham of Orange City was having her partial dentures adjusted Tuesday at the office of Dr. Michael Hammonds, 57, of Elkcam Dental in Deltona when the procedure began causing Graham intense pain, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Thursday.

"She yanked them out and flung them at Hammonds, demanding a refund," sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

Haught said the Graham tried to reclaim the dentures when Hammond refused the refund and the pair struggled over the false teeth.

Graham said she eventually bit the dentist's hand to try to get him to let go of the dentures.

Deputies said Hammonds then shut the door to his office, scraping Graham's leg with the edge of the door, and refused to let her leave while deputies were called.

"Whenever she reached for the door handle, he grabbed her arms," Haught said.

Hammonds was arrested and charged with false imprisonment, both battery and assault on a person older than 65, and grand theft. He was released after posting $4,000 bail.

Graham was not arrested.