Man Bit Part Of Roommate's Ear Off, Stabbed Him In Baldwin: Police

BALDWIN, NY — A Baldwin man was arrested after Nassau police said he assaulted his roommate, biting a part of his ear off, on Thursday morning. He was also accused of injuring a police officer trying to arrest him, police said.

Marcus O’Brien, 35, got into an argument with his roommate, a 53-year-old man, that turned physical, police said. O'Brien punched the man several times with a closed fist, causing swelling and bruising, police said. O'Brien left the room and came back with a large kitchen knife and stabbed the man several times, causing deep cuts to his left shoulder and right arm, police said. The man fought back, causing the knife to fall, and then O'Brien placed both his hands around the man's neck and bit his right ear, causing a large piece to come off, police said.

The man was able to escape the Grand Avenue home around 6 a.m. and call for the police at a neighbor's home, police said.

Officers arrested O'Brien without further incident and brought him and the man he was accused of assaulting to a hospital for treatment, police said. The roommate was listed in stable condition, police said.

O'Brien was released from the hospital, and as officers brought him to a marked Nassau police car, he became "uncooperative, refused lawful commands and attempted physical force towards the officers," police said.

An officer suffered injuries and was treated at the hospital, police said.

O’Brien was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing, criminal obstruction of breathing/circulation, third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree harassment, and second-degree obstructing governmental administration.