Man Bitten By Venomous Snake In Staten Island Apartment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man could be in trouble with the law after he was bitten by his own venomous snake in his apartment Friday night.
Police say the 27-year-old man was cleaning a snake tank at his home at 1900 Richmond Ave. in the Graniteville section of Staten Island when a highly venomous Sub-Saharan Gaboon viper attacked him.
The man used a fishing knife to cut the snake's head off when it wouldn't let go of his arm with its fangs, according to police.
He was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center's poison control unit where he's currently stable. Authorities say it doesn't appear the snake injected any venom into his arm.
A neighbor named Joe tells 1010 WINS' Roger Stern that it wasn't a good animal to have around the area.
"I hope that all the snakes around here get out of the building," he said. "Last thing we need is a snake bite epidemic in the neighborhood."
Police say they also found a boa constrictor while they searched the home. Both species are illegal in the city.
The 27-year-old was not arrested but has been issued a summons, according to police.
