Transient Bites Off Fingertip of Venice Cafe Owner

A 31-year-old man suspected of biting off the fingertip of a Venice cafe owner was behind bars today.

Jonathan Lemons was arrested shortly after the attack about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Cow’s End Cafe, 34 W. Washington Blvd., said Lt. Joseph Sanchez of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Station. Lemons’ age was not available to Sanchez or on the sheriff’s inmate information website.

Lemons was transported to the 77th Street Station after booking to be held at a station with a medical dispensary, Sanchez said.

Owner Clabe Hartley, 72, told reporters that the suspect said, “I’ll kill you,” when Hartley tried to stop him from harassing customers.

Hartley said the man, described as a transient, then came at him.

The suspect spit out the fingertip, which could not be reattached.

Cafe patrons helped stop the attack and police arrested him nearby.

He was booked on suspicion of aggravated mayhem, a felony, police said.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS: Was this just a freak occurrence, or is it an indication that Venice’s homeless population is getting out of control?

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: Google Maps

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