A Scranton man described by law enforcement as disoriented and paranoid pulled a knife on officers and hospital personnel early Friday at Geisinger Community Medical Center, police said.
Police were dispatched to the 1300 block of North Washington Avenue at 1:59 a.m. on a report of a man calling 911 who seemed confused, officers said. Dispatchers then informed police the man was on foot between Larch Street and New York Street, according to a criminal complaint.
Upon arrival, Patrolwoman Olivia Muchal observed a man — later identified as Jason Mitchell — stumbling on the sidewalk, police said. Mitchell told police he felt people around him and was paranoid about all the cameras.
Muchal said Mitchell was looking all around him, indicating he was nervous about something, police said. He was also expressing concerns about cars following him and noted he frequently sees black cats, she wrote in the complaint.
Mitchell, who told police he takes medicine but was not using it at the time, agreed to go to the hospital to be checked out, officers said.
He kept repeating that he needed to speak to someone, that he was extremely paranoid, and that this was all a simulation, police said.
Mitchell became hesitant when the ambulance arrived, telling officers EMS workers were setting him up, according to the criminal complaint. After about 20 minutes, he agreed to enter the ambulance, officers said.
Police did not search Mitchell before loading him into the ambulance due to his paranoid mental state, according to the criminal complaint. They believed asking to search him would send him further into a manic state, putting himself and officers at risk, officers said.
At the hospital, Mitchell became paranoid, but medical personnel and an officer were able to get him to the hallway of the emergency department where he remained for about 40 minutes, police said. When police confirmed Mitchell was off his medication, he was turned over to the mental health delegate.
Mitchell claimed hospital staff were attempting to drug him after a nurse offered food, water and medication, and said it was part of their plan to “capture” him, police said.
Officers and hospital security guards tried to load Mitchell onto a stretcher, but he started pulling back and leaning against them, according to the criminal complaint. At some point, Mitchell retrieved a dual blade knife he had concealed and was holding it in his hand, officers said.
When he was eventually taken to the ground, one officer deployed his Taser on Mitchell while another handcuffed him to mitigate the threat, police said.
Mitchell suffered a laceration to his right thumb and index finger from the knife, according to the criminal complaint. No officers reported any injuries from the scuffle.
Police charged Mitchell, 312 New St., with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and related counts.
As of Monday, Mitchell, 40, remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m.
Originally Published: October 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM EDT