Venice Transient Charged In Biting Off Merchant's Fingertip
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Prosecutors announced charges Tuesday against a 31-year-old transient in biting off the fingertip of a Venice cafe owner in a dispute.
Jonathan Shain Lemmons pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of mayhem and criminal threats stemming from the attack last Saturday at the Cow's End Cafe.
Owner Clabe Hartley, 72, told reporters that Lemmons threatened to kill him when Hartley tried to stop him from harassing customers about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
According to Hartley, Lemmons initially appeared to be aiming for his eyes when he suddenly advanced on him. The suspect then bit off and spit out the fingertip, which could not be reattached.
Bystanders intervened and stopped the attack, according to police. Lemmons was arrested shortly afterward.
He is due back in court April 20.
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