Police say they were dispatched to a possible assault about 2 a.m. Tuesday to find the 40-year-old victim, who was not named, missing the tip of his nose.
The man was uncooperative and would not tell police how he lost part of his nose, though he did say he had been attacked by one or more people, Juneau police spokeswoman Cindee Brown-Mills said. The jagged tears discovered where the tip was severed from his nose led police to believe it had been bitten off rather than cut, she said. He did not report other injuries.
"There was lots of blood and he was holding towels to his face," Brown-Mills said. The missing area of the nose included "the tip of it down to where there is cartilage."
Police said the man had apparently been at the downtown Marine Park when the assault took place. Marine Park is a common hangout for night owls, Brown-Mills said. Police suspect alcohol was involved in the assault.
After becoming separated from part of his nose, the man went to a friend's home nearby. The friend called police, Brown-Mills said.
Medics took the man to the hospital as police began trying to sniff out the whereabouts of the missing nose tip, Brown-Mills said. They found it almost immediately on the ground in the park.
The nose was rushed to Bartlett Regional Hospital, where police hoped doctors would be able to reattach it. It was unclear Tuesday if the reunion was successful.
Police are calling the attack a felony assault and are asking for help solving the case. Callers can remain anonymous by calling the Juneau Crime Line at 586-4243.
Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589.
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