Hospital worker stabbed with a needle, others injured during struggle with suspected overdose patient in Kensington
Several workers were hurt during the incident Wednesday afternoon in the emergency room at Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus, police said.
A 39-year-old man being treated for a possible drug overdose Wednesday afternoon at a hospital in the city’s Kensington section stabbed a staff member in the arm with a hypodermic needle and caused several other workers to be injured before he was restrained and arrested, police said.
Shortly before 4:20 p.m., police were called to Temple University Hospital’s Episcopal Campus in the 100 block of East Lehigh Avenue for a report of a person stabbing workers with a syringe.
By the time police arrived, the suspect was already restrained. Police were told the man was brought to the hospital by medics and was displaying violent behavior.
When a member of the nursing staff attempted to administer medication with a needle, the man knocked it away, causing it to poke the arm of a security guard, police said.
A worker identified as a recovery specialist tried to intervene, but he was stabbed by the suspect twice in the left forearm with the needle, police said. The suspect then tried to stab the specialist in the face, causing the specialist to jump back and accidentally hit a nurse in the head with an elbow.
The nurse was injured and could not recall the assault because of her injury, police said.
Police arrested the man, and the case is being investigated by the East Detective Division.