A man being held at the Ramsey County jail on a violent robbery charge bit off his cellmate’s ear during a fight last week, according to a criminal complaint.
Michael Anthony Lewis, 34, of St. Paul, is now charged with first-degree assault in connection with the incident at the jail in St. Paul on Nov. 10.
Michael Anthony Lewis (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the complaint, Lewis’ cellmate told a correctional officer that he and Lewis were going to fight. The officer went to check on them, and heard a noise coming from their cell.
She saw the cellmate, 40, lying on his bed trying to defend himself, the complaint said. His left ear was missing and blood was on his jail uniform, the walls and floor. A bloody pen was also on the floor.
Lewis yelled at his cellmate and the officer, while blood was coming from his mouth. Additional officers responded, and he was removed from the cell.
The man’s missing ear was recovered, placed on ice and taken with him to Regions Hospital. Doctors were unable to reattach it.
The man said Lewis tried to stab him with the inmate pen and bit his ear off. He said he and Lewis “had been beefing” since Lewis became his cellmate, the complaint read.
Lewis declined to provide a statement during a disciplinary hearing.
Lewis has been jailed since Oct. 20, when he was arrested and later charged with allegedly repeatedly striking an acquaintance in the head with a metal pole inside a downtown St. Paul apartment building.
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Lobby surveillance footage showed Lewis delivered several blows, dragged the man down the hallway and stole his shoes, wallet and pants, according to the complaint in that case charging him with first-degree aggravated robbery. He was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Lewis went before a Ramsey County District Court judge on the latest charge on Monday, and his new bail was upped to $100,000. He’s due back in court for both cases on Dec. 9.
The Pioneer Press requested comment on the allegations Tuesday.
Lewis has convictions out of Louisiana that include home invasion, resisting an officer and simple battery, the complaints said.
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