The incident involving Dr. Dennis Bingham Jr., of Primary Care Associates in New Lebanon, occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on June 29 in the parking lot of a New Lebanon grocery store, according to a New Lebanon Police incident report.
Police were called to the grocery store after receiving a 911 call hang-up, according to the incident report. When an officer arrived at the store, he spoke with Daniel Lamb, 49, of Farmersville, who told him, “Bingham tried to run me over in the parking lot.”
Lamb told police that he was leaving the grocery store and started walking toward his vehicle when he passed a black SUV whose driver allegedly started steering the SUV toward him. Lamb then stated that he attempted to go behind the SUV, but the driver allegedly backed the SUV up to prevent Lamb was passing. The driver was later identified as Bingham, 46, a Lewisburg resident.
Lamb claims that Bingham eventually exited his SUV, began screaming at him and appeared as if he wanted to physically fight him. Lamb said he then got away from Bingham, went back inside the store and asked a clerk to call 911.
The officer at the scene also heard from a female witness who gave him a similar account of what happened, the report said.
Lamb told police his wife works for Bingham and believes the two are involved in a romantic relationship.
Lamb also filed a criminal damaging complaint against Bingham on June 29 with the Jackson Twp. Police Department. Lamb accused Bingham of damaging some of his property at his home, and the incident is under investigation.
The officer later spotted Bingham exiting his medical practice at 550 W. Main Street. When approached by the officer, Bingham told him that he was at the grocery store, but only wanted to talk with Lamb.
Bingham was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail on June 29 but bonded out on June 30, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s records. He also entered a not guilty plea on June 30 in the county’s Municipal Court Western Division.
A pre-trial hearing for Bingham’s case has been scheduled for July 21.
“If he pleads guilty or is found guilty, it would be grounds for disciplinary action by the (State Medical Board of Ohio),” said Joan Wehrle, education and outreach program manager for the state medical board. “Every case is reviewed on its own individual merits.”
Wehrle said state law prevented her from disclosing whether there were complaints against Bingham, but she did say that Bingham had no disciplinary history with the state board.
If convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor charge, Bingham could face up to 180 days in jail and/or receive a fine up to $1,000.
Bingham’s online profile on Good Samaritan Hospital’s web site says that he has practiced internal medicine for at least 12 years. His state license to practice internal medicine expires in 2013.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kwynn@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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