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Police: Patient tried to inject drugs
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
Police arrested a 33-year-old city man on suspicion of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia after they said he attempted to inject drugs while hooked to an intravenous pump while a patient in the hospital.
Police left the Lexington Avenue man in Forum Health Northside Medical Center for continued treatment, however.
It is unclear why the man was initially admitted to the hospital.
According to reports, a nurse went into the man’s room for a routine check just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, but the man screamed for her not to come into the room.
The nurse entered and realized the man had his hands folded over something.
After briefly talking with the nurse, the patient again ordered the nurse to leave. The nurse left the room but called hospital security and a physician to report the incident.
Shortly after leaving the room, the nurse heard the alarm on the patient’s intravenous pump beeping, and she returned to check the device.
The man again demanded that the nurse leave the room, but the nurse found the pump to be blocked.
City police and hospital security questioned the man who reportedly said he had been “trying to shoot up” in the room when the nurse interrupted.
Police found three syringes, a cooking spoon, a black cord, rubber band and a clear liquid in the room.
Reports say the man had just had visitors before attempting to use the drugs.
He is now in a room with a “no visitors” sign on the door and a hospital security monitor.