Wis. man allegedly bit wedding guest’s finger off when victim tried to restrain him
11/01/2023 1:54 pm PDT
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (TCD) -- A 21-year-old man was arrested last week after he allegedly bit the top of a man’s finger off at a wedding because other guests were upset the suspect "inappropriately touched another guest."
According to the criminal complaint cited by WITI-TV, on Friday, Oct. 27, officers from the Town of Oconomowoc Police Department responded to The Club at Lac La Belle after getting a call from someone who said a man "had their fingertip bitten off."
Officers arrived at the wedding venue and located the suspect, Nathan Landsee, sitting on a couch "with blood on his sleeve, which did not appear to be from him." There was other blood evidence on the floor near the main ballroom, as well as attendees who "appeared to have been disturbed by this incident, including some who were crying."
The criminal complaint alleges Landsee touched a guest, which caused other people around them to become upset. Landsee reportedly "began to yell and became very agitated," at which point people tried to isolate him in another room. The bride and groom attempted to calm Landsee, but he soon became disruptive again.
Another witness reportedly walked into the room and told Landsee to leave, but he "became very aggressive and continued to be loud."
One of the witnesses allegedly told Landsee he needed to leave or else he would call the police. Landsee allegedly "started to lunge at him, and was attempting to strike him."
Three people restrained Landsee on the ground, but during the altercation, Landsee "bit the tip or someone’s finger off." The Oconomowoc Police officer who wrote the criminal complaint noted, "It appeared that approximately a half-inch of the finger had been bitten off. The bone inside of the finger appeared to be exposed."
He called the victim’s injuries "significant."
The criminal complaint cited by WISN-TV says Landsee was "running his mouth," so the victim "grabbed the defendant around the head area."
Landsee reportedly turned toward the victim, "they toppled down onto the floor, and at some point, Victim A’s hand got into the defendant’s mouth and the defendant bit down on his finger."
Officials located the victim’s fingertip and put it in a cup of ice until he could be taken to the hospital. The victim said he needed "18 or 19 stitches while the surgeon attempted to reattach the tip of his finger."
If the surgery did not work, however, he "would have a deformity for the rest of his life."
Landsee was reportedly very drunk at the wedding and had a blood alcohol content level of .210, according to WITI.
Court records show Landsee is being charged with felony aggravated battery — intent to cause bodily harm and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
His bond was set at $25,000.
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
