Shoplifter Bites Store Clerk's Face: Taunton Police

TAUNTON, MA — A Taunton man was arrested Monday after biting a store clerk's face to the point he was bleeding profusely, police said. Joel Davila, 19, was charged with assault with intent to maim and mayhem.

Around 11:25 p.m., a customer at the Sunoco on Broadway called to report the attack. When police arrived, they found the 55-year-old store clerk with a large gash below his left eye bleeding profusely. Police said Davila was sitting on the floor in a store aisle when he was detained. The store clerk was taken to a Boston Hospital and was recovering from serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

When police reviewed store security footage, they said they saw the store clerk try to stop Davila from stealing a drink. Davila was known to the clerk and had stolen from the store in the past, police said. Police said the clerk put his arm across the cooler door to prevent Davila from opening it, and then Davila bit the man's elbow, and then during a struggle, Davila bit the clerk's face.

A witness at the store called 911 and tended to the victim while another witness prevented Davilafrom leaving the store.

"The actions of the suspect represent an attack of an innocent worker just doing his job and trying to prevent the theft of merchandise from his place of employment," Taunton Police Chief Walsh said in a statement. "I would like to commend the good Samaritans who were in the store at the time and helped the victim while preventing this dangerous suspect from escaping and possibly harming others."

Davila was arraigned Tuesday in Taunton District Court and is being held without bail.