TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME

Man tries to steal bike from motorhome, owner bites his nose off instead

By Leroy Polk

KTUU
August 8, 2018

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- An Anchorage burglary attempt turned violent Wednesday morning, after a physical fight ensued between the potential theft victim and suspect, leaving both men injured and bleeding from stab and bite wounds.

According to the Anchorage Police Department, the incident took place on the 1900 block of E 4th Avenue. Officers arrived just after 5 a.m., finding two injured men.

One of the men, later identified as the theft suspect, Robert Russell, 38, was bleeding form his nose and face. The other man, standing near a motorhome and later identified as the victim, was wearing a shirt that was soaked in blood, police say.

Following the investigation, the incident began when the victim, and owner of the motorhome, awoke to noises on the roof of their RV. There, Russell was allegedly trying to steal a bicycle off the bike rack.

The owner confronted Russell, police say, and the suspect began to fight with him, punching him and stabbing him with "a small pointed instrument," causing puncture wounds to the leg and chest of the victim.

The incident got even more violent, APD said, when Russell bit the victim's arm, and the victim responded by biting back.

"The victim then leaned down and bit the suspect back on the face, removing a large chunk of his nose," APD stated in a community alert.

Both men sustained non-life-threatening injuries and went to the hospital to be treated. Russell was charged with second degree assault in the incident.