Local News in Brief : Biting Suspect Arrested
A leather-cleaning worker was arrested early Wednesday in connection with a bizarre incident during a rock concert at the Music Center last week in which a top Los Angeles police official had his fingertip bitten off, police said.
Jorge Montgomerie, 31, who lives in the Ventura County community of Santa Susana Knolls, was arrested on a warrant accusing him of mayhem and battery during a March 7 scuffle in which Cmdr. Frank Piersol, 43, head of the LAPD’s South Bureau, lost a portion of his left index finger.
Investigators and witnesses said Montgomerie was part of a group that danced at their seats in the front row of the balcony of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, apparently blocking the view of Piersol and a female companion of a performance by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
Heated words were exchanged and the two men scuffled.
Montgomerie’s lawyer has contended that Piersol was to blame for the fight.
Bail for Montgomerie was set at $22,000.
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