A police officer resigned from the Fort Pierce Police Department after being caught on camera punching and slapping a suspect at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.

The incident happened on February 20.

Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney said police officers and crews with St. Lucie County Fire Rescue found the man unconscious and intoxicated on Okeechobee Road. Officers took him to the hospital for an evaluation where he continued to be combative and made threats to a female officer.

Hobley-Burney said officer Albert Eckrode punched and slapped the suspect, who was not in handcuffs. The suspect suffered an injury to his upper lip that required stitches.

Eckrode, 31, a K9 handler with the department, was put on leave the same day of the incident and faced termination. But he decided to resign.