An Osceola County deputy has been suspended following allegations that he struck a patient who was handcuffed to a hospital bed.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – An Osceola County deputy has been charged with battery after he allegedly was caught on camera striking a patient who was handcuffed to a hospital bed.
The incident is said to have happened at AdventHealth on May 6.
Deputy Dirio Sinclair was relieved from duty while a criminal investigation was conducted by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. As part of that investigation, detectives interviewed hospital staff and law enforcement officers on the scene. They also reviewed video footage.
“The patient appears to be in a mental health crisis and is attempting to stand up and pull on the rail he is handcuffed to. At that point, Deputy Sinclair orders him to sit down and a shouting match begins,” read a description of the video by the Sheriff’s Office. “Deputy Sinclair points his finger. His finger touches the patient and the patient swats the deputy’s hand away. Deputy Sinclair then begins to strike the patient.”
