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(COURTESY OF THE U.S. NAVY)

A Navy captain relieved of command of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard last month had created a hostile work environment -- slapping a woman on the shoulder in one case, according to a Navy report obtained by the Associated Press.

Capt. Gregory Thomas regularly yelled at his subordinates, lacing his tirades with profanity to intimidate them, the Associated Press reported. In one case, he reportedly hit a woman in the shoulder several times after approaching her to talk about a late inspection.

Thomas has denied slapping the woman, telling investigators," It did not happen," according to the Associated Press.

Still, the Navy report found that Thomas acted in an unprofessional manner toward his subordinates: "His frequent use of profanity, yelling, intimidation, and threats of firing while addressing their performance of assigned duties was injurious to their sensibilities and not what a reasonable man would expect to have to endure from their leader."

Read 'APNewsBreak: Navy: Ex-officer used intimidation' by the Associated Press.

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