Man's Finger Bitten Off in Cartersville Motel Fight

A man bit off more than he could chew Friday night during a fight at a Cartersville motel.

Authorities were called to a Parkway North room at 1400 Joe Frank Harris Parkway about 11 p.m., where the alleged victim, a resident of the motel, said James Charles Johnson Sr., 53, of Akron Street in Cartersville, had asked him for a ride, but was refused. 

The alleged victim said Johnson left, but returned 5 to 10 minutes later and tried to force his way into the room.

"(The victim) stated he met Mr. Johnson at his front door where Mr. Johnson continuously tried to force his way into his residence. (The victim) stated he did push Mr. Johnson away from his front door and stated to him he could not come into his room," an officer wrote in the Cartersville Police Department incident report, above. "(The victim) stated that Mr. Johnson then punched him in the mouth and then began to attack him. (The victim) stated he ended up on the ground with Mr. Johnson on top of him. (The victim) stated he was attempting to protect himself from Mr. Johnson when Mr. Johnson bit his finger off. 

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"(The victim) stated as his finger was being bitten (as) he was reaching for a bat to try to strike Mr. Johnson with the bat. (The victim) stated he did not strike Mr. Johnson with the bat."

Police spotted Johnson about 10 minutes later in the area of Grassdale Road and Skyview Circle. Johnson said he went to the victim's room to ask for a ride home, but was refused and left. He was then confronted by witness, who said the victim "was looking for him and wanted to fight."

Johnson allegedly told police he then went back to the victim's room.
"Mr. Johnson stated (the victim) stated to him that if he came into his room he was going to beat him up," the officer wrote. "Mr. Johnson stated (the victim) stated this information while holding a bat. Mr. Johnson stated he and (the victim) did begin to fight and they ended up on the ground.

"Mr. Johnson stated at some point he felt an unknown object in his mouth and therefore he bit down. Mr. Johnson stated he felt something fall into his mouth when he bit down and then spit out the unknown object. Mr. Johnson stated it wasn't until he spit the object out that he realized it was (the victim's) finger.

"Mr. Johnson stated at this point he advised (the victim) that they should stop fighting. Mr. Johnson stated he then left to walk home."

The witness, who said she was sitting on the victim's bed, told police Johnson was yelling at the victim "about telling his wife (the witness) was at their residence." When it became physical, the woman left, she said.

The victim refused transportation to the hospital via ambulance. He retrieved the portion of his finger allegedly bitten off from underneath a recliner and put it on ice until someone could arrive to take him to the hospital.

CPD spokesman Capt. Mark Camp said the victim's finger was detached from the tip to the first knuckle.

Johnson was arrested and jailed on an aggravated battery charge.

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