Cape Girardeau man arrested for allegedly throwing an IV needle at hospital employee

A Cape Girardeau man is behind bars Friday on a $10,000 bond for reportedly throwing an IV needle at a Southeast Missouri Hospital employee Thursday.

Police arrested Matthew L. Martin, 28, of 12 N. Pindwood Lane, and charged him with the class A misdemeanor of assault of emergency personnel.

He is scheduled to appear before Associate Court Judge Gary Kamp Monday for arraignment. If convicted, Martin faces a maximum sentence of year in jail and or a $1,000 fine.

According to the probable-cause statement, Martin allegedly became angry Dec. 17 when, in the hospital's emergency room, he felt hospital staff was not acting quickly enough to tend to his needs. He left the ER with an IV still in his arm. A unit technician reportedly followed him into the waiting area when Martin pulled the IV unit out of his arm and threw it at the technician.

Cape Girardeau police got a call about 4:25 p.m. Dec. 17 that after the alleged assault, Martin took off on foot, Cpl. Jason Selzer said. Police later arrested him at his home.

It is unknown why Martin was in the emergency room, but no one was injured in the incident, he said. The needle was not retrieved by police.

Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said Friday a 2004 statute made a class C misdemeanor for assault, with a maximum penalty of up to 15 days jail and or a $300 fine, into a class A charge when emergency personnel are involved. The statute was added to provide emergency personnel more protection.

Swingle added in the probable-cause statement that Martin poses a threat to the community for several reasons, including a 2006 incident in which Cape Girardeau police reportedly found a loaded 7.62 mm handgun hidden in Martin's hotel room. Martin had reportedly been telling guests in the lobby of the hotel he was bipolar and residing at the hotel on the advice of his psychiatrist, who said he should stay away from his wife and children after threatening to kill them. A subsequent investigation revealed that Martin was rendered emotionally impaired by the bipolar disorder, making it illegal for him to own firearms.

Martin obtained a change of venue to Wayne County for the charge of unlawful possession of a concealable firearm, a felony, and is scheduled to appear in that court Feb. 27 for a case review.

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127