Gregory Sperlbaum, 57, Tamaqua, was charged with harassment and public drunkenness after he punched another man around 11:19 p.m. Dec. 24, Tamaqua police said.

Police were sent to a disturbance on North Lehigh Street and found Sperlbaum lying unconscious in the street. Officers said he exhibited signs of drunkenness, and was bleeding from his nose and mouth. When speaking, police said he spit blood onto officer’s face, causing it to go into his left eye and onto his face and hands.

Tamaqua EMS transported Sperlbaum to the St. Luke’s Miners Campus for evaluation and provided the officer with water to wipe away the blood.

Police spoke to a witness who said that as a man exited a Lehigh Street gas station, Sperlbaum punched him in the face.

Sperlbaum then attempted to “chest bump” the man, but fell to the ground and struck his nose and mouth.

The man said he did not know Sperlbaum but saw him as he entered the gas station. When he left, he said, Sperlbaum punched him and caused a cut near his left ear. He refused medical attention.

The police officer spoke to an emergency department physician at St. Luke’s who said he would draw Sperlbaum’s blood to check for HIV and hepatitis. The physician told the officer that he needed to get his blood drawn for a baseline report.

The officer had blood taken, police said.