Costa Mesa Resident Charged with Biting ICE Officer

LOS ANGELES — A 35-year-old Russian national from Costa Mesa, Maksim Zaitsev, was charged Wednesday with assaulting a federal employee after allegedly biting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an arrest.

Zaitsev is charged with assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was scheduled for an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles later that afternoon.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally stated, "The men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are critical to protecting national security and public safety and upholding the rule of law. As alleged in the felony criminal complaint, the defendant attacked a deportation officer. He will be held accountable for his actions."

According to the affidavit, on Tuesday morning, two ICE officers arrested Zaitsev under an administrative arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. After handcuffing him, the officers attempted to escort Zaitsev for processing, but he became agitated and resisted. During the struggle, Zaitsev allegedly bit one officer on the left pinky finger, breaking the skin, drawing blood, and breaking the officer's finger.

If convicted, Zaitsev could face up to 20 years in federal prison.