Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O'Brien, 53, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault or battery.
According to WFTS Tampa Bay, O'Brien broke into a home in the Northdale neighborhood of Tampa, Florida around 6:57 p.m. on Monday, December 10. The home was occupied by two currently-unidentified people, one of whom O'Brien pushed to the ground.
O'Brien was hiding behind a fence near his home when police arrived. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, O'Brien ran toward an officer on the scene with a knife. WFTS says O'Brien was taken "down by using an electronic control device on him and arrested him at the scene." No further details about O'Brien's arrest are currently available at this time.
A different local outlet, WFLA, reports that prior to the home invasion, O'Brien's home was on fire with exploding ammunition inside.
The massive fire broke out Monday night at a home on Norwood Drive. Deputies say Pat O'Brien, a local death metal guitarist, lives in the home.
Hillsborough County firefighters were able to get the fire under control after about an hour but struggled due to the ammunition inside exploding due to the flames. Crews remained at the scene throughout the night and kept the road blocked long off after the fire was put out.
In Florida, both crimes are felony charges. O'brien could be facing up to thirty years in prison just on the charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. The burglary charge can see a fine up to $10,000 a maximum of life in prison.
Update: O'Brien has since appeared in court, wearing an anti-suicide vest, and had his bail set at $50,000, pending a drug test. More information and video from the court appearance can be seen here.
Neither Cannibal Corpse nor their label Metal Blade have yet to release statements on O'Brien's arrest. Cannibal Corpse was announced yesterday as one of the opening acts alongside Amon Amarth and Lamb Of God for Slayer's final North American tour beginning in May 2019 (we're actually giving away a pair of tickets to each stop of the tour).
