CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended the podiatry license of Anthony Overton, Jr. Daniel E. Bluthardt, Director of the Division of Professional Regulation signed the summary suspension order on July 27, 2006. The department has the authority to issue a summary suspension when it feels the health and safety of the public may be in danger by the continued practice of a licensee.
The Department learned of Overton’s arrest on July 10, 2006, for felony sexual assault and practice beyond the scope of his podiatrist’s license through news reports and undertook a complete investigation into the facts of the case. The Department’s order outlines three additional complaints that were filed with the Chicago Police Department subsequent to Overton’s arrest. Each complaint alleges similar inappropriate behavior by the Chicago-area podiatrist during visits to his office. After verifying the facts of the arrest and the subsequent complaints, the Department ordered Overton’s license to be summarily suspended due to concerns about imminent danger to the health and public safety.
By the action taken yesterday, Overton’s license is immediately suspended and he is not allowed to practice podiatry in Illinois. A hearing on this matter has been scheduled before the Podiatric Medical Board of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on August 22 and 23, 2006.
A copy of the Petition for Temporary Suspension and the Order is available here.
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