Police: Man attacks state trooper

Becomes belligerent after learning his bail amount in stabbing

A Monroe County man was being arraigned Friday night at his hospital bed on attempted homicide charges when he attacked and spit on a state trooper after learning his bail amount, according to court records.

Tyler R. Papastefanou, 28, of East Stroudsburg allegedly stabbed a man who was attempting to help a woman in a domestic violence incident Thursday night in Middle Smithfield Township, police said. He fled in his vehicle after the stabbing and crashed a short distance later. He was found passed out in his car and was apprehended, police said.

Papastefanou was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township to be treated for his injuries and state police from the Fogelsville barracks kept guard of him, police said.

While he was in the hospital, Papastefanou was arraigned by video and telephone on the Monroe County charges. After District Judge Daniel Higgins told him his bail was being set at $150,000, Papastefanou became agitated and combative, court records say.

He attempted to punch a state trooper, and hospital staff assisted the trooper in handcuffing Papastefanou to his hospital bed, court records say. While the trooper was completing an arm restraint, Papastefanou spit at the trooper, hitting him in the eye and mouth, police said.

As the trooper left to be treated by hospital staff, Papastefanou yelled, “wait til I get you” and “I’ll get you,” court records say.

He was charged with aggravated harassment by prisoner, terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned on the new charges by District Judge Rod Beck who raised his bail by $100,000.