GALVESTON — A man claiming to be a vampire was in the Galveston County jail today after attacking a woman over the weekend.

"He was begging us to restrain him because he didn't want to kill us," Galveston Officer Daniel Erickson said. "He said he needed to feed."

Lyle Monroe Bensley, 19, of Galveston, is being held on a charge of burglary with intent to commit assault after forcing his way early Saturday into the apartment of a woman he did not know, police spokesman Capt. Jeff Heyse said.

Bensley, covered with tattoos and wearing only boxer shorts, forced his way into the apartment on Seawall Boulevard and made his way into the bedroom of a woman whose name has not been released, Heyse said.

Bensley made growling and hissing noises while biting and hitting the woman in her bed, Heyse said. Bensley then dragged her out of the apartment and she broke free.

She ran into the parking lot where she got into a car driven by a neighbor. Bensley beat on the car before it sped away, Heyse said.

Police received a call at 6:50 a.m. Erickson said he and another officer were in the woman's apartment when they heard shrieking and growling sounds and saw Bensley in the parking lot. They arrested him after a short chase.

"I'm a vampire, and I've been alive for over 500 years," Bensley said, according to Erickson.

Emergency medical personnel determined that Bensley did not appear to be under the influence of drugs, Erickson said.

A mental health hold was placed on Bensley and his bond was set at $40,000.

harvey.rice@chron.com