ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The St. Augustine Police Department recently arrested a man after his snake was allegedly used to attack his neighbor.

Police said snake owner Richard Birnberg, 44, went after his neighbor after the neighbor allegedly grabbed Birnberg's snake and threw it on the ground.

The St. Augustine Police Department said it has never seen a case of a snake attack like the one betweeen the two men.

According to police, neighbors living in an apartment complex got into an argument about a pet snake. The fight led to an attack involving the snake, and eventually the arrest of Birnberg.

"The suspect became angry at the victim because the victim didn't like snakes, and the suspect's girlfriend had supposedly chased him around with it," said Sgt. Barry Fox of the St. Augustine Police Department.

Police said Birnberg got a knife and threatened his neighbor with it and then beat the man.

Police ask the public to take the incident as a lesson not to use snakes to threaten people.

"You should not probably put (a snake) in their faces. It will probably cause an adverse effect," Fox said. "I don't like, and don't want anybody wagging one in my face."

Birnberg is charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, which is a felony, and battery.