The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office will not pursue charges against Warren Town Council member Joseph DePasquale, who was accused last month of biting a man’s finger during an altercation in a Warren alleyway.

“Based on all the witness statements and evidence provided in this case, the state is unable to determine who primary aggressor is and as such would be unable to prove charges against either individual beyond a reasons able doubt,” the AG wrote in a memo to the Warren Police Department.

“Therefore the state does not feel it is appropriate to charge either party.”

Warren police had asked the AG to investigate the matter late last month, saying that since the Warren Town Solicitor serves at the pleasure of the town council, independent review of the case was warranted.

Mr. DePasquale was accused of assaulting and biting a Warren man in an alleyway behind Main Street late Friday evening, Sept. 20.

Alfie Purcell, 26, told Warren police Saturday, Sept. 21 that Mr. DePasquale bit his finger and threatened him after he came upon the town council member urinating in an alleyway, and confronted him about it.

Mr. Purcell, a musician, spent the weekend in the hospital, receiving intravenous antibiotics for his left ring finger.

Following the AG's announcement, Mr. DePasquale issued the following statement Thursday:

"I was involved in an unfortunate incident a few weeks ago, but I was not the aggressor in the situation. I defended myself as best as I could, but still ended up on the ground with more than one person on top of me. I understand that public officials are held to a higher standard, but the statements made publicly were inaccurate and did not portray what really happened.

In the future, I will do my best to avoid these situations."