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MARS, Pa. (AP) — In a story Aug. 7 about a dentist accused of being drunk at his office, The Associated Press erroneously reported how events unfolded and that he is alleged to have treated multiple patients while intoxicated.
According to the police account, Dr. Gregory Bellotti saw seven patients on the morning of March 23, drank alcohol during his lunch break and then saw one patient afterward.
His former employer, Professional Dental Alliance, on Tuesday disputed part of the police report. It said a patient was in the waiting room after lunch but was not treated.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Cops: Dentist charged with being drunk at work
Police say a dentist in Pennsylvania was discovered drunk at work, told responding officers he'd had a bottle of vodka
MARS, Pa. (AP) — Police say a dentist in Pennsylvania was discovered drunk at work and that after staff called 911, he told responding officers he'd had a bottle of vodka.
Dr. Gregory Bellotti was charged with public drunkenness and reckless endangerment.
Police said staff at Refresh Dental Management in Mars called authorities March 23 to report someone with an "altered level of consciousness."
Officers found Bellotti heavily intoxicated. He was treated at a hospital for alcohol poisoning.
Police said he admitted drinking alcohol at lunch. They said he saw one patient after the lunch break before staff intervened. But his former employer, Professional Dental Alliance, which fired him, disputed that part of the report. It said one patient was in the waiting room after lunch but was not treated.
Bellotti's arraignment is set for Sept. 5. The state dentistry board suspended his license.
His lawyer declined comment.
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