Pennsylvania State Police have charged a suspect with attempted homicide after a stabbing police termed as a “psychotic episode.”

On Saturday at approximately 8:35 p.m., the Pennsylvania State Police, Stroudsburg Station and multiple EMS units were dispatched to area of 485 Wooddale Road, Price Township, Monroe County for a report of a woman screaming for help and a man appearing to have been stabbed. Initial 911 calls indicated that a man, later identified as Matthew Russo, 39, of East Stroudsburg, then fled the area in a gray Toyota Tacoma pickup.

Troopers and EMS began responding to the scene and while en route encountered the gray Toyota Tacoma crashed into a wooded area off Wooddale Road near the intersection with Schoolhouse Road. Matthew Russo had a significant wound to his left arm and was profusely bleeding. Troopers immediately applied a tourniquet to his left arm, while awaiting EMS.

Additional troopers and EMS continued to 485 Wooddale Road and found a male victim, laying along the roadway, semi-responsive, with what appeared to be a significant stab wound. A female victim also appeared with a serious wound on her left arm. Due to the life-threatening and critical injuries on both, EMS requested helicopters to transport both to St. Luke’s Hospital- Bethlehem, a trauma facility.

Russo was then transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital- Pocono for treatment. Interviews indicated that Russo suffered from mental illness and may have had a psychotic episode.

Criminal charges for attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon were filed in district court.

Trooper Justin M. LERI, Troop N-Criminal Investigation Unit, is conducting the investigation.