A man from Orange County is set to face significant legal consequences following an altercation that took place during his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The individual, identified as 35-year-old Maksim Zaitsev of Costa Mesa, is accused of assaulting a federal officer in a rather unusual and grave manner—by allegedly biting and breaking the officer’s finger.
The incident in question occurred last week, around 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, at the United States Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, as reported by KTLA. Zaitsev, a Russian national, was with his wife when he was taken into custody on a warrant from the Department of Homeland Security. However, the process didn’t go smoothly. Zaitsev reportedly became agitated while being escorted for processing, and during a tussle with the officers, is said to have bitten down forcibly enough to fracture the ICE agent’s digit.
Details of the altercation were released in a partially redacted affidavit from the Department of Justice, which stated that Zaitsev was already detained and handcuffed when the assault occurred. The consequences for such an attack on a federal employee are severe. According to Fox LA, Zaitsev, who was charged this past Wednesday, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted…