Man stabs Temple emergency room staff with needle, police say

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A patient at Temple University Hospital’s Episcopal Campus in West Kensington attacked several hospital workers with a needle, according to police.

Authorities said a 39-year-old man was brought to the emergency room, located at Front Street and Lehigh Avenue, around 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday for symptoms of an overdose. Police said he was displaying “violent and agitated behavior.”

Hospital and security staff tried to subdue and medicate the man via syringe, but he knocked it away, causing it to poke a security guard. Police said the patient then used the syringe to stab a nurse.

A second nurse was accidentally elbowed in the face by a staff member during the scuffle, knocking her unconscious. Another guard was also assaulted.

“All four are going to be OK,” said Chief Inspector Scott Small. “Two of them were stabbed by a hypodermic needle and the other two were assaulted by this 39-year-old victim, who was brought into the emergency room because he had symptoms of an overdose.”

Police said the patient was arrested and will be charged.