Police: Man bit off his father's finger

Left: Twenty-one-year-old Christopher Clarke in a booking photo taken after a bar brawl on Dec. 19. Photo via the New York State Police.  

A 21-year-old Greenville man bit off part of his father's right index finger during a fight in a the parking lot of an Orange County bar on Friday, Dec. 21, police say.

Christopher Clarke was "highly intoxicated" when he left the Dark Horse Tavern in Slate Hill at 11:25 p.m. on Friday night, according to a New York State Police press release. After he allegedly began a fight in the parking lot, his father, 44-year-old Christopher Clarke of Greenville, tried to restrain him. In the process, the younger Clarke bit off part of his father's finger, police say.

The two Clarkes were taken to Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. They have been treated and released, police say. The younger Clarke is being charged with second-degree assault, and is appearing in court in the town of Wawayanda on Monday, Dec. 22.

The tip of the elder Clarke's finger has not been recovered, police say. 

Correction: The first version of this post incorrectly stated that the Clarkes were from Greene County. In fact, they are from Orange County, which also has a town of Greenville, the State Police have confirmed. Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Christpher Scott for pointing that out. -- Julia Reischel 

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