Days after police arrested and charged a Berwyn doctor with fondling several female patients, others gathered at his Cermak Road office to support the general practioner.

Nearly 100 patients crowded the waiting room of Ricardo Arze’s office and the street outside 6925 Cermak Road Friday, just two days after the doctor was arrested and three days after his medical license was suspended by the state.

Patients that met Friday said, knowing the doctor as they do and having experienced his care, they cannot believe the allegations.

“He’s been one of the most caring and devoted doctors I’ve ever had, who has been totally involved in my health,” said Vickie Hugh, who has been traveling from Darien to see the doctor for more than 15 years. “If you met the doctor and you were his patient, you couldn’t imagine that he did this, and I didn’t believe it for a second. He’s totally professional and takes his patients and his practice very seriously.”

The patients chanted “we want our doctor back” and hoisted signs reading messages of support in Spanish and English. They told stories of a selfless and dedicated doctor, who often took medical mission trips to Bolivia and saw local patients for free when they didn’t have the money to pay.

“He’s really an asset to the community,” said Berwyn resident George Ryczek, whose elderly parents have been treated by Arze. “A lot of his patients come and they don’t have anything, but he doesn’t care and he treats them for free. To have a doctor here taking care of these people who need health care is really something.”

However, the allegations of four former female patients tell another story. The complaint, filed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation against the doctor Sept. 25, details the accounts of the four patients.

One patient said Arze rubbed her genitals while asking her if she was sexually aroused, and then became aroused himself, according to the complaint.

The state documents go on to say that the doctor “presents an immediate danger to the safety of the public in the state of Illinois.”

Arze’s brother-in-law, Rick Hawk, discredited the complaint and accused at least one patient of having a personal “vendetta” against the doctor. Hawk said he believes one of the patients felt rejected and sought revenge through making the allegations, after Arze, who is married, turned her down for a date.

“He has been in business for 20 years, without one complaint from the American Medical Association or patients and ... after 20 years of nothing, suddenly four complaints pop up?” Hawk said. “This is about proving one’s innocence and it could be about proving someone else’s guiltiness, because someone is lying and someone is wrong.”

Berwyn Police Chief William Kushner said the complaint is the well-founded result of a two-month investigation by both police and the IDFPR. Kushner said police are looking for any more victims.

Berwyn police charged the doctor on Sept. 26 with four counts of misdemeanor battery.

Family members, friend, co-workers and patients said they are confident in Arze’s innocence and will wait for their doctor to return.

“I hope he comes back because I think a lot of people here need him,” said Alfredo Hernandez of Cicero, who has been seeing Arze for about six years. “He’s a very polite, excellent doctor, who takes his time with you and listens to you. I can’t believe these allegations, and I just wish we could get the doctor back, because he’s good for all of us.”