Chapel Hill Man Accused of Biting Girlfriend's Tongue; Held on $390K Bail

Originally posted 5:03 p.m., July 29, 2014

Luke Lazarus Marion IV

A Chapel Hill man is in Wake County Detention Center on $390,000 bail, on charges of misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury, and felony malicious maiming after he allegedly tried to bite his girlfriend’s tongue off during a fight on July 18. The bite reportedly caused permanent damage.

The News & Observer is reporting that 29-year-old Luke Lazarus Marion IV of 102 Isley Street in Chapel Hill was also charged with resisting an officer, when he was arrested on July 19th.

Police say Marion smashed his girlfriend’s cell phone when she tried to call for help, so he was charged with interfering with emergency communications.

A woman claiming to be a friend of the woman whose tongue was allegedly bitten by her boyfriend says permanent damage has been done and surgery will be necessary.

The friend told WCHL in an email that the victim’s frenulum—the piece of skin extending from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue—was completely severed. She said there was also massive damage to the nerves in her tongue as well as taste buds.

She said, to her knowledge, the victim was not kissing Marion at the time, rather the assault stemmed from an attack.

Marion posted bail and was released from Wake County Detention Center, but was re-arrested on July 23rd for violating release conditions.

Marion has upcoming court appearances in three counties. He’s due in Orange County District Court on August 4 on charges of being drunk and disruptive, and resisting arrest by a Chapel Hill Police officer on April 21st.

He was arrested again by Chapel Hill police the next day for speeding and driving a vehicle with canceled license plates; for driving while impaired and without a license; for leaving the scene of an accident; for missing a court date that month; and for resisting an officer.

Marion will be back in Wake County court on August 5th, for a court hearing on charges of fleeing to elude, driving with a revoked license and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

Another Wake County court appearance is scheduled on August 11th for several traffic-related charges and resisting arrest. And on August 28th, Marion will be in New Hanover County Court for allegedly driving while impaired and driving with a revoked license.

Lumina News reports that on May 25th, a 28-year-old white male named Luke Lazarus Marion was arrested by Wrightsville Beach Police while fleeing, after he allegedly hit a 47-year-old woman, poured wine on her, and threw a jellyfish on her at Johnny Mercer’s Pier.

Chapel Hill Man Accused of Biting Girlfriend’s Tongue; Held on $390K Bail

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