A Lake Wales physician was arrested in late January following an investigation into multiple alleged incidents involving unwanted physical contact with an employee, according to arrest and probable cause affidavits released by the Lake Wales Police Department.
Ricardo James Navarro, 38, of Babson Park, was taken into custody on January 28, 2026, and charged with 12 counts of misdemeanor battery under Florida law.
According to the affidavit, an employee at Navarro’s medical office reported a pattern of inappropriate and non-consensual contact that allegedly occurred over approximately one year.
The employee told investigators the first incident occurred in January 2025 following a work-related meeting. She stated Navarro repeatedly brushed against her shoulder and made comments that made her uncomfortable. As employees were leaving the office later that day, she alleged Navarro kissed her on the right side of her face. She stated the contact made her uncomfortable but she did not report the incident at that time.
The affidavit states that on February 24, 2025, Navarro sent the employee a text message asking her to come to his office. She reported that upon entering, Navarro closed the door behind her and, after discussing patient information, leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips without consent. She stated she immediately told Navarro she needed to leave and exited the office.
Investigators documented additional incidents in which the employee stated Navarro summoned her to his office for work-related matters. She alleged that during those encounters, Navarro closed the door, grabbed her arm, and attempted to pull her onto his lap. She reported resisting by squatting rather than fully sitting and stated she did not know how long Navarro held her in that position but recalled her legs becoming tired. She told investigators the contact was unwanted.
The affidavit further states Navarro made her sit on his lap approximately 10 to 15 additional times over the course of the following year under similar circumstances. During that same period, she reported Navarro attempted to kiss her approximately 30 to 40 times, which she stated she avoided by consistently turning her face away. She told investigators each incident occurred inside Navarro’s office and that the contact was unwanted.
One incident described in the report allegedly occurred in early January 2026 after Navarro asked the employee to obtain an X-ray for a patient. When she entered the room, Navarro followed her inside, closed the door, grabbed her arm, and forcibly placed her hand on the front of his pants, where she stated she felt his penis. She advised detectives she immediately pulled her arm away, at which point Navarro grabbed her arm again and told her to “just touch it.” She stated she again told Navarro to stop and not touch her.
The employee told investigators she did not report the incidents earlier due to fear of losing her job, which she stated was her sole source of income, and because she is a single mother.
She reported that she did not return to work following another alleged incident that occurred on January 20, 2026, and decided to report the matter to law enforcement.
Officers noted in the affidavit that during her interview, the employee was visibly shaking, crying, and appeared fearful and emotionally distressed while recounting the alleged incidents.
With assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, officers located Navarro at a residence in Babson Park. He was read his Miranda rights and declined to make a statement, stating he did not wish to speak with law enforcement without an attorney present.
Navarro was transported to the Polk County Processing Center and booked on 12 counts of misdemeanor battery under Florida Statute 784.03.
This is an ongoing investigation according to Lake Wales Police Department. If anyone has information regarding this investigation they can contact Phone: 863-678-4223.
Navarro is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
