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Ohio poll worker charged in voter nose bite claim

A poll worker in Ohio has been charged with assault for allegedly trying to bite off the nose of a voter during an Election Day argument.
/ Source: msnbc.com news services

A poll worker in Ohio has been charged with assault for allegedly trying to bite off the nose of a voter during an Election Day argument.

Police say 53-year-old James N. Williams of Cleveland was charged Thursday and jailed to await a court hearing Saturday.

He is accused of head-butting and trying to bite off the nose of a voter who helped a campaign volunteer in an argument over signs posted near a Cleveland polling place Tuesday. Greg Flanagan needed hospital treatment.

The police report said Williams "grabbed him (Flanagan) around the neck, head butted him in between the eyes, then pulled his head close to him and tried to bite his nose off," .

Flanagan told the poll worker not to act like an ass, but says that language didn't merit an attack. Williams was an Election Day rover, checking for voting problems.

Court records don't show an attorney for Williams and he cannot accept calls in jail.