Man bites off nose of fellow mental-health patient

SEATTLE -- A patient at a Seattle mental health facility bit off the nose of a fellow patient and threw a cup of coffee in his face, for 'running his mouth' at dinnertime.

According to the Seattle Police Department, the suspect and victim were both patients at Navos Mental Health Solutions in Delridge when the got into a physical altercation just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

While neither have had any previous behavior problems, staff believes they knew each other outside the facility, and that's why they got into an argument.

After the attack, the suspect became immediately cooperative with staff, and was put into seclusion. The victim's nose was given to the Seattle Fire Department, who were first on scene. He was then transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

Officers declined to arrest the man, despite the supervising nurse's request he be taken into custody. The officer reasoned that the man was already in seclusion at a mental health facility, and transporting him to jail would only put officers and other inmates at risk.

Navos agreed to hold and monitor the suspect.

It is not clear what charges he will face, if any.