Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O'Brien performing live.
[Photo by: Wikimedia Commons]

Cannibal Corpse guitarist arrested for burglary, assault

Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien was arrested on charges of burglary and aggravated assault on Monday in Tampa, Florida, after a massive fire broke out at the musician’s home, Metal Injection reports. O’Brien is currently being held without bail in Hillsborough County Jail, according to police records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.

O’Brien, 53, reportedly broke into a home in the Northdale neighborhood of Tampa at around 7 p.m. on Dec. 10. The musician “didn’t know anyone at the home and didn’t have permission to be there,” the Times report says. After an occupant told him to leave, O’Brien pushed a woman to the ground and fled to the backyard, where he hid by a fence.

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Ignoring commands from a responding police deputy, O’Brien then charged the deputy with a knife, the report says. The police officer used an electronic control device to subdue the guitarist and eventually take him into custody. Meanwhile, as noted by Creative Loafing Tampa, the musician’s own home nearby was going up in flames.

Indeed, it would appear that a house fire happening nearby—bolstered by exploding ammunition—was ripping through a home owned by O’Brien. The fire’s relation to the burglary and assault appears to have been initially unclear.

“Crews remained at the scene throughout the night and kept the road blocked long off after the fire was put out,” WLFA reports, “but around the same time the house caught fire, the sheriff’s office got a call about a burglary in progress at a nearby home.”

Cannibal Corpse just wrapped up their winter tour in Fort Lauderdale last week. And the band hit the road with Slayer and more starting next year. What do you think about O’Brien’s arrest? Sound off, below, in the comments section.

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