LOS ANGELES, CA – A Russian national has been charged with assaulting a federal officer after allegedly biting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an arrest in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said Wednesday. The alleged attack resulted in a serious injury, with the officer sustaining a broken finger.
Maksim Zaitsev, a resident of Costa Mesa, was charged with assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Justice Department.
The incident occurred on Feb. 25, when two ICE officers were executing an administrative warrant in downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said Zaitsev was taken into custody but resisted as officers attempted to transport him for processing. During the struggle, he allegedly bit one of the officers on the pinky finger.
According to the complaint, the bite was severe enough to break the officer’s skin and fracture the finger. A photograph of the injury was circulated on social media.
It was not immediately clear what the initial warrant against Zaitsev was for.
Zaitsev was expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
