Healthcare reform activist bites off fingertip of 65-year-old man, authorities say [Updated]

Authorities today are searching for a healthcare reform activist who they said bit off the fingertip of a 65-year-old man during a fight at a MoveOn.org rally in Thousand Oaks. 

[Updated at 5:16 p.m.: A previous version of this post reported that the activist had bitten off the finger of a counter-demonstrator. Authorities now say that only the tip of the man's finger was bitten off, and that the 65-year-old victim told them he was not demonstrating at the time of the fight.]

“It all started with their difference in philosophy over healthcare reform,” said Senior Deputy Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

The incident occurred about 7 p.m. Wednesday at a “We Can’t Afford to Wait Vigil” organized by affiliates of the activist group MoveOn.org, which drew supporters of President Obama’s healthcare plan, Buschow said. The rally also attracted several counter-protesters, he said. 

[Updated at 5 p.m.: During the rally at Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive, near the Oaks Mall, the suspect and William James Rice got into a heated argument and began fighting, Buschow said. Rice, of Newbury Park, punched the suspect after the man called him an "idiot," Buschow said.

At that point, one man bit off the the tip of Rice's left pinkie finger, Buschow said.

Rice then drove himself to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, about a mile away, Buschow said.  A witness picked up the detached fingertip after the suspect spit it out and drove it to the hospital. Buschow said doctors told the victim that they could not reattach the fingertip because of the high risk of infection.]

Ilyse Hogue, director of political advocacy and communications for MoveOn.org, called the incident “a regrettable act of violence” in a statement released this morning.

“While we do not have any more facts about what happened than what we saw in press accounts, MoveOn condemns violence in all forms,” Hogue said. “We support the Ventura County sheriff’s investigation into the situation. It is in our firm hope that this event does not detract from the tens of thousands who were out peacefully making their voices heard for health care reform and a public option.”

Authorities said they are looking for a white male in his late 40s or 50s who was last seen wearing black shorts and a black shirt. 

“We’re still trying to figure out who was the aggressor,” Buschow said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at (805) 494-8201.

—Ruben Vives

Comments

[Ben Johnson]

I call BS! The LA Times knows exactly who the agressor was and has yet to update its story to reflect that it was a pro-Obama, pro-government option, pro-healthcare reform activist who bit off the finger of a 65 year old man. It's all over the radio and I am sure you can interview plenty of people who will make themselves available for quotes. The fact that you only have quotes from MoveOn.org is telling. What happened to giving both sides of the story? It is a shame that we cannot count on our local paper to report facts simply because it conflicts with their leftist agenda.

[Don]

Had I seen that occur (biting off of a finger), I would have assumed that was a act of mayhem, and would have shot the assailant DEAD.

[jt]

maybe if people stopped pointing fingers at each other, one won't get bitten off!?

[anonymous]

I heard a first hand account of this incident on the radio by "Scott" from Thousand Oaks who saw the whole thing and called in to share the story.

The Obamacare supporter, who was on the side of the street with other supporters, came across the street toward the anti-Obamacare crowd and singled out an elderly man and proceded to "get in his face" about his views. The Obamacare supporter then pulled the old man out into the street, unprovoked I might add, and then bit the old guys finger off while the old guy was just trying to get away. The old man then shuffled off toward a hospital.

The person giving this account,"Scott", then went out into the street and found the old man's finger. He and some others called 911 and the dispatcher gave them the location to the nearest hospital which she said would be thier best bet for finding the man. They rushed over and were able to find the old man and provide him with his finger. Scott then went back to the scene to wait for police. He gave the police the entire account and they tried to find the attacker amongst the Obamacare supports, but he had fled by then.

[james]

20 bucks says the victim was wagging his finger in front of the guy and was warned to stop several times. i bet he deserved it.

the anti-reformers do not know how to have a discussion about this topic. they have to get in your face anytime they are trying to make a point.

just shows how ignorant and how intolerant they really are as people.

[Norman Rogers]

What a sad commentary on our political discourse. Somewhere, an ambulance is still being chased by three lawyers and a blogger.

[Mr. O]

Oooh, finger food :)

[h]

I hope the injured guy had insurance.

[Schooner131]

The only thing that's 'regrettable' is that anyone considers MoveOn.org and valid organization. It's funded but a non-American thug, George Soros, and exists only to ruin this good country. Perfect example of what's on the side of this administration.

[Ret345]

More hired thugs and extreme left wing psychos who believe in threats, violence and anarchy?? A "Move on to Communism.org" member??? Why am I, a Latino female, not surprised?? Wake up Los Angeles.

[Lance Manco]

Mabye he was hungry; when you find the guy, give him some foodstamps.

[Dave Taylor]

Gee, it's a good thing the guy was 65 and had Medicare. Otherwise, he might not be able to afford getting his finger reattached.

[Gary Plumbley]

I think it is very interesting that an event that the facts of an event that happened yesterday cannot be verified. The reason for that is because the Obama hired thugs,moveon.org, were the agressors and assaulted the Obama protestor. You did however make the unsubstantiated claim of "tens of thousands" of Obama healthcare supporters. Journalists? Not hardly.

[Monica]

Where are the Liberal Democrats now?!?! If it had been the other way around they would be SCREAMING at the top of their lungs about the "mobs"... I am sickened by this behavior, and worse yet I am sickened by the behavior of our politicians that only scream out when it is on behalf of "their own kind"
Screw Obamacare and all its backers!

[mike]

Who uses a pinky to point with anyway??? I guess the biter doesn't believe in the first amendment. Why does the left try to stifle free speech. The liberals of the 60's were all for it. I guess fascism is taking root in left leaning politics.

[fpp00]

...he got it re-attached. it's a good thing the guy didn't swallow. I wonder if he left for protest on a empty stomach?

[FactFinder]

It's always the left that are the teroorists and prohibit free speech. Pretty soon the police will begin to round up the dissidents.

[Chris]

maybe if people stopped pointing fingers at each other, one won't get bitten off!?

Posted by: jt | September 03, 2009 at 10:50 AM

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Yeah, that's really funny. Did you come up with that all by yourself?

[plantation slave]

they will be stabbing each other next. this has gone toooo far. the obamacrats need to ditch this healthcare proposal

[George]

So far the only violence taking place across the country at these events has been on the Obama side of the argument. What does that tell you??? As if you didn't know.

[TheFinkOfSalem]

Don't TASTE me bro!

Is cannibalism an Alinsky tactic?

[Catbird]

I always thought Obamacare was cannibalistic.

[Douglas W. Hall]

“It all started with their difference in philosophy over healthcare reform,” said Senior Deputy Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. ???? Oh yeah, that's how they would word it if it was the "ObamaCare" supporter who had his finger bitten off. Give me a break. Do you left wing stenographers really think we are this stupid? The sleeping giant isn't just awake. He is ready to get down to business.

[dave]

Interesting how carefully the LA times writes this. In fact, the "agressor" was a pro obama manufactured astroturf paid for protestor, and the person attacked was against obama care. Just in case anyone who reads this biased, leftist propaganda rag are interested in knowing the actual facts.

[Edgar Allen]

The Ventura Star does have an account that differs from "Scott's" version.