A paramedic flipped a patient off a stretcher in February, but he has been charged with the misdemeanour just this month.

The former paramedic was identified by police as Kenneth Hallenbeck. In February, he had been transporting 48-year-old patient James Slater to the Triage Department in the Wuesthoff Medical Center- Rockledge.

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After Hallenbeck finished bringing Slater to the department, he asked the patient to get off the stretcher. Apparently, Slater was not ready to get off and decided to refuse leaving the stretcher. As a result, Hallenbeck then flipped the stretcher and Slater was dropped on to the hospital floor, related the spokesperson for the Rockledge Police Department, Donna Seyferth.

Seyferth added that Hallenbeck was charged with elderly or disabled abuse following the gathering of statements from the victim as well as witnesses present on February 25.

This week however, prosecutors say they are unclear as to whether the victim falls under the criteria of a disabled adult which will support the case for a felony charge. As a result, prosecutors instead reduced the charges against the former paramedic from Florida. They reduced the charges from elderly abuse to a misdemeanour, guaranteeing quicker results, according to The Associated Press.

"Based on the victim's medical condition, which is confidential, it is unclear if he meets the criteria of a 'disabled adult' necessary to support a felony charge," Assistant State Attorney Gary Beatty stated via e-mail.

"Because of this uncertainty, litigation of this matter would likely have prolonged disposition of the case beyond the victim's life expectancy and subjected him to stress that could have aggravated his condition," Beatty said, adding, "The misdemeanor charge facilitates a quick resolution of the case that will insure Mr. Hallenbeck surrenders his paramedic license and assures he will not be able to work as a paramedic in the future."

Apart from the charges, Hallenbeck had to surrender his paramedic license, according to Florida Today.

The video of the February incident was released by the State Attorney's Office in Viera.

The State Attorney's Office said that the video was only released after several news agencies, such as FLORIDA TODAY, requested the release of public records, reported WTSP.

Hallenbeck's sentencing will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, June 22, in Viera. The case will be presided over by Judge John C. Murphy.

Tagsparamedic flips patient off stretcher, Florida, Kenneth Hallenbeck, Wuesthoff Medical Center- Rockledge, Viera