A doctor and two staffers at a Duluth medical practice face charges of false imprisonment for allegedly locking a patient in a room when concerns arose about her ability to pay the bill.\r
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Dr. John Drew Laurusonis and office assistants Leslie Ann York and Alexander Acquah of the Doctors Medical Center were indicted this week on false imprisonment charges. The three face arraignment July 3.\r
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Police say Frances Bales, 36, of Duluth, was held against her will on Oct. 4, 2007, when she went to the clinic seeking treatment for arm pain.\r
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A receptionist at Doctors Medical Center said the clinic would have no comment and then hung up. Office staff for Laurusonis' attorney, Richard Ryczek, said the attorney would call back later for comment.\r
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Bales' attorney, Joseph Fried, said Friday she was told initially that the visit would cost $98. Bales had been visiting from out-of-state and didn't have health insurance, Fried said.\r
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""They took her debit card and her driver's license at the reception desk,"" Fried said. ""She figured with X-rays it might be a little more.""\r
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Instead, after tests, she was charged $755.\r
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""She says, 'I don't have the money,' "" Fried said. ""They direct her to go into what they called their billing office."" For several hours, the staff refused to allow her to leave, locking her in for periods of time, Fried said. They had her log into her bank records from a computer while she was there, he said.\r
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""They said, 'Don't you have anyone who loves you who can come and help you? Because you're not leaving until this bill is paid,' "" Fried said. ""They made her feel like she was a criminal. She was made to feel like she couldn't leave without something bad to happen to her.""\r
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Fried described Bales' personality as less assertive than other people.\r
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At one point, they allowed her to go to her truck to get a paycheck, but held her keys while she looked, unlocking the vehicle's doors with the electronic key fob on the keychain, Fried said.
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