A San Rafael man will be arraigned on felony charges Friday on allegations he bit a rival during a fight, then damaged the inside of a patrol car on his way to jail, authorities said.
Taviyen Taniel Simpson, 34, was charged with battery causing serious bodily injury and vandalism, said Deputy District Attorney Kevin O'Hara. Simpson could face up to four years in prison on the charges, plus three more years because of his prior criminal record, O'Hara said.
Simpson was arrested Tuesday night after a fight at Marin General Hospital. The cause of the fight was unclear, but sheriff's Sgt. Craig Scardina said Simpson allegedly bit the victim on the left torso.
The victim in the fight, who was not a hospital employee, also suffered nose and hand injuries.
As he was being taken to jail, Simpson repeatedly kicked a rear door and window in the sheriff's patrol car, eventually breaking off an arm rest, Scardina said.
Simpson's bail was set at $50,000. He will be arraigned Friday morning before Judge Paul Haakenson.
At the time of the hospital incident, Simpson was awaiting trial in two other cases involving charges of assault, exhibiting a weapon, battery, resisting police, drug offenses, O'Hara said. The district attorney's office also filed a petition to revoke his probation in another drug case.
Copyright 2011 - The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service