Police: Patient charged with assaulting nurse, destroying hospital room

WILKES-BARRE — A Wilkes-Barre man was arraigned Monday on allegations he assaulted a nurse, a security officer and damaged a room at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Wilkes-Barre police responded to the hospital on North River Street for an “out of control” patient identified in court records as Francis Shay Mapp, 29, at about 2:44 p.m. Sunday.

Mapp was taken to the hospital earlier by police for a head injury reportedly suffered during a domestic dispute.

Police in court records say Mapp had to be sedated due to his violent behavior. When Mapp awakened, he became more violent and attempted to punch a hospital security supervisor, court records say.

Mapp threw items inside his hospital room, jumped up and down on a stainless steel sink that he pulled from the wall, according to court records.

Hospital staff locked Mapp inside the room until officers arrived.

Police allege Mapp spat that struck the security supervisor.

A nurse told police he shoved Mapp’s head onto a gurney when he attempted to spit on other employees, court records say.

Police said Mapp allegedly threatened to return to the hospital and “shoot them.”

Mapp, of South Meade Street, was arraigned by District Judge Brian Tupper of Kingston Township on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail as Tupper deemed him a threat to the public.