Man accused of needle stabbing

Lucas Whiteman allegedly approached a stranger outside a gas station on University Drive North on September 5, stabbed him with a needle, and told him it was dirty before leaving.

“stabbing him in the arm with a needle and telling him it was "dirty" before walking away”

Charges and custody

Whiteman is charged with terrorizing and simple assault and is being held in the Cass County Jail awaiting his next court appearance.

Assault needlesticks are extremely rare

Fargo police say this is the only needle-related assault they have investigated in the past two years. Dr. Josh Honeyman at Essentia Health confirms that assault-related needlestick injuries are uncommon.

“It's extremely rare we see one related to an assault”

Medical response to needlestick injury

Doctors first assess vaccination history and risk, then determine if preventative medication for HIV or hepatitis B vaccine is needed. Testing can take a long time to show positive results.

“It can be a very long time before that test is actually positive”

Needle source cannot be traced

Syringes can be purchased at pharmacies and online, making it impossible to determine where the needle used in the assault came from.

“our needles can be purchased at pharmacies; they can be purchased online”

Syringe program reduces drug use

Fargo Cass Public Health's Syringe Services Program tracks participants anonymously. People using the program are five times more likely to enter treatment and three times more likely to stop using drugs.

“five times more likely to enter treatment and three times more likely to stop using drugs”