Kenneth Hallenbeck will enter a plea and be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 22, in Viera. Judge John C. Murphy is slated to preside over the case.
"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," said Gary Beatty, Assistant State Attorney in an 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 added. "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."
Original Story:
The State Attorney's Office in Viera has released video from a February incident that depicts a now-former Brevard paramedic flipping a patient off his stretcher.
Kenneth Hallenbeck was transporting a patient, 48-year-old James Slater, to Wuesthoff Medical Center- Rockledge when the incident occurred, according to Rockledge Police Department Spokesperson Donna Seyferth.
The patient was transported to the triage area of Wuesthoff Hospital, but when he was asked to get off the backboard, he refused. That's when Hallenbeck is alleged to have flipped the stretcher, dumping the patient off.
Seyferth said that after statements from witnesses and the victim, Hallenbeck was charged with elderly/disabled abuse on February 25.
The video was released following public records requests from numerous news agencies, including FLORIDA TODAY, according to the State Attorney's Office.
