Road Rage poster boy of the week:
The case of a New Castle resident charged with biting off a sizable portion of another man's ear has taken another twist, with the defendant now claiming he was justified in using "allegedly deadly force."
Curtis A. "Alan" Cross, 44, is charged with battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Class C felony carrying a standard four-year prison term, in an April 1 attack on Jeffrey Guffey.
Authorities allege Cross attacked the 32-year-old Guffey, who had shouted at the defendant to slow down as he drove on East 20th Street at what Guffey has claimed was a high rate of speed.
According to a police report, Cross told officers he became angry, stopped his pickup truck and confronted Guffey after the alleged victim, riding a bicycle, had held up his middle finger as Cross drove past.
He yelled at me to slow down and gave me the finger from his bicycle. I had no choice but to bite his ear off -- who can't understand that?
