Russian national charged with biting ICE officer during DTLA arrest
The Brief
The Justice Department charged a Russian national on Wednesday with assaulting a federal officer.
Officials claim Maksim Zaitsev bit an immigration officer as he was being arrested in downtown Los Angeles.
The bite was so hard, it broke the officer's finger, according to the DOJ.
LOS ANGELES - The Justice Department charged a Russian national on Wednesday with assaulting a federal officer during an arrest in downtownLos Angeles earlier this week.
The complaint alleges that Maksim Zaitsev bit the officer's hand so hard that it broke the officer's finger.
What we know
Maksim Zaitsev of Costa Mesa was charged on Wednesday with assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury.
The alleged attack happened on Feb. 25. According to the complaint, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were serving an administrative warrant downtown that morning. The officers arrested Zaitsev.
The officers handcuffed Zaitsev and tried to bring him in for processing. That's when they said Zaitsev started to fight back, and during the struggle, Zaitsev allegedly bit one of the officers on the pinky.
The alleged bite was so hard, it broke the skin and even broke the officer's finger, according to the DOJ.
A photograph shared on X appears to show the bite.
What we don't know
It's unclear what the initial warrant was for.
What's next
Zaitsev was expected in court on Wednesday.
If he is convicted, Zaitsev would face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The Source
Information in this story is from a Department of Justice press release issued on Feb. 26, 2025.
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