Last Friday a man with strong teeth and a pit-bull-like jaw pedaled his bicycle to the LaSalle Waterfront Park, and under a pavilion, at a picnic table, along the scenic Niagara, he was imbibing alcoholic beverages in the company of frequently arrested, 57 year old Eric Mercilliot of LaSalle.
As the consumption of alcoholic beverages increased so did the displeasure of at least one of the men - the man with the strong teeth, who it turns out has also been frequently arrested.
What triggered it is unknown but discussion turned to argument and the man with the strong teeth bit onto the right ring finger of Mercilliot and bit off the tip.
The biter spat out the fingertip and fled on his bicycle.
Police were called.
Mericilliot's finger bled heavily but despite being too drunk to explain how the argument started he was able to recover his fingertip.
Mercilliot was taken by ambulance to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center for treatment. The Reporter contacted the hospital to determine if they were able to reattach the fingertip but were unable to find out before press time.
Police are confident they know the name of the biter and Police Supt. Bryan DalPorto said, "an expedient arrest is expected."
"Anytime a person is assaulted, we investigate it to the fullest," DalPorto said explaining that the charges are expected to be assault in the 2nd degree, a D-felony.
DalPorto said he could not remember another incident where an extremity of a person was bitten off in a drunken fight, but admitted he was familiar with the suspect from his previous arrests.
The police chief, who would not release the identity of the suspect prior to an arrest warrant being issued, could not say for certain whether the man, who the Reporter presently is referring to as "Fang", wore dentures or performed his amputation with his natural teeth.
Stay tuned.