GASTONIA, N.C. — A man is facing several charges, including assault on a government official, after a Gastonia police officer was stuck with a hypodermic drug needle that was in the man's pocket.
The officer was patting down Joseph Wilson during a drug arrest at a fast-food restaurant Sunday night.
Eyewitness News reporter Ken Lemon found out that officer has to undergo weeks of medicine and doctor care until he's cleared of any illness or infection.
The officer whose name hasn't been released is still working after the incident at this KFC on New Hope Road near Interstate 85.
"It certainly is not fun for him," said Gastonia Police Department Capt. Michael Lari. "Very stressful situation."
Police were called to the scene Sunday when someone noticed a man in the women's restroom.
When they got there the man was gone, but the officer noticed another man acting suspiciously so they decided to search him.
"Usually an officer will ask someone, 'Do you have anything on you that is dangerous to me?'" Lari said.
Police said Wilson answered no.
The incident happened during the pat down. The officer reached into Wilson's pocket and felt the prick of a needle."
Wilson was charged with possession of heroin and police took the needle to test the contents.
They also got an order from a judge to test Wilson's blood.
Dr. Harish Marishiddaiah said in 19 years of working at CaroMont Regional Medical Center he has not seen people exposed to dirty needles get seriously infected.
But the exposed person must take medication within two hours.
"The person could have HIV, or hepatitis C, hepatitis B," Marishiddaiah said.
He said the person exposed needs to keep taking medication for up to 28 days.
"And then we follow them for up to six months to make sure they don't convert," Marishiddaiah said.
Officers said they are always aware of the risk of a search but they are even more cautious now since this happened.
WSOC
