August 01, 2024
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
A 39-year-old man taken to Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus stabbed a specialist with a needle as workers tried to administer medication to him, police say. Two other people also were injured. The man is facing assault and related charges.
A 39-year-old man assaulted several hospital workers in Kensington with a needle Wednesday afternoon and was arrested shortly afterward, police said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was acting aggressively and displaying overdose symptoms when he arrived with EMTs at Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus, police said. Nurses attempted to give him a medication with a syringe, but the man knocked it away, and the needle poked a security guard in the arm.
A recovery specialist intervened, but the man stabbed him twice in the left forearm with the same needle, investigators said. The man then attempted to stab the specialist in the face; the specialist jumped back and accidentally hit a nurse in the head with his elbow. The nurse was knocked unconscious and does not remember details of the assault, police said.
When police showed up around 4:18, the man had been restrained by hospital workers, investigators said. He has been charged with four counts of assault, reckless endangerment and related charges, police said. An investigation remains ongoing.
"The safety of our employees, patients and visitors is our first priority at Temple University Hospital – Episcopal Campus," Temple Health said in a statement to CBS Philadelphia. "We are working with police as they continue to investigate this incident. We are offering onsite support and resources to those impacted."
