BAY CITY, MI -- A 40-year-old man is facing a felony charge after reportedly saying he would eat his girlfriend's face, then trying to follow through on the threat.

About 6 p.m. on Friday, May 19, a Michigan State Police trooper responded to the AmericInn Hotel at 3915 Three Mile Road in Monitor Township. A desk clerk had called 911 after a bloodied female guest had run into the lobby, court records show.

The trooper spoke with the alleged victim in her room at the hotel. The woman said she and Darryl J. Socia had come to the hotel to "drink and party." She said she and Socia have had an on-again, off-again dating relationship for about 11 years but they went to the hotel because their parents disapprove of them being together.

At some point, a highly intoxicated Socia "flipped a switch and freaked out," the woman told the trooper. He shoved her into walls and threw her onto the bed, then knelt on top of her and said he was "going to eat her face off," court records show.

Socia proceeded to bite the woman on her nose, causing it to start bleeding. The woman noted Socia doesn't actually have any teeth. She added this is not the first time he has tried biting her face in a hotel room.

The woman managed to get away from Socia and ran into the lobby. She was pursued by Socia, but his mother arrived and drove him away, court records show.

The clerk told the trooper the woman had come running into the lobby in a panic and looked like "a bloody mess."

The trooper was unable to contact Socia that night. Police learned on June 24 that Socia had been in a 21-day rehabilitation program for alcoholism.

The trooper interviewed Socia around that time. Socia said his girlfriend had been the aggressor and that he accidentally hit her nose. He said that when his mom picked him up, she drove him to a hospital and he spent a few days in a mental health facility before entering rehab, court record show.

Socia on Aug. 14 appeared in Bay County District Court for arraignment on one count of third-offense domestic violence. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The arraigning judge set Socia's bond at $10,000 cash-surety, which he has since posted. Conditions of his bond are that he not consume alcohol and that he have no contact with his alleged victim.

Socia is represented by Bay City attorney Marcus R. Garske.

Socia is to appear for a preliminary examination before District Judge Mark E. Janer at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29.