Sexual battery charges dropped against noted physician

EJones@SFLTimes.com

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Broward State Attorney’s Office has dropped sexual battery charges against Dr. Edwin H. Hamilton, a prominent South Florida physician who was accused of allegedly raping one of his patients.

Honowitz said more specific information would be forthcoming.

Hamilton’s attorney J. David Bogenschutz said he provided the state attorney’s office with “a wealth of information which called the believability of the information into question”.

“They decided to ‘no info’ the information, which means the charges were never filed,” Bogenschutz said.

Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Special Victims Unit arrested Hamilton, 79, on May 11, following allegations that he forced himself on one of his patients. According to the allegations, during a struggle with the woman, her cell phone fell and it coincidentally redialed the last number she had called, which was the number of her sister, who recorded the encounter.

The sister called 911 and arrived at the scene with deputies. The recording of the incident has yet to be released.

According to the arrest affidavit, the woman gave a sworn statement alleging that Hamilton vaginally penetrated her, among other things.

Hamilton is a successful doctor and prominent member of society, particularly in the black community. He is an author and is associate pastor at Fort Lauderdale’s Mount Olive Baptist Church and has taught Sunday school.

He is affiliated with several local hospitals and organizations where he has received countless awards and recognitions for his practice and community service. Earlier this year, a scholarship was set up in his name for students interested in medical studies at Meharry