Man Bites Off Part of Deputy's Ear During Fight, Police Say

KTLA News

4:56 a.m. PST, November 22, 2011

PALMDALE, Calif. (KTLA) -- A suspect who allegedly bit off part of a deputy's ear and tried to take his gun during a struggle has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and mayhem.

Police say a deputy stopped 41-year-old Miguel Delacruz while he was walking in the 200 block of East Palmdale Boulevard around 3:45 a.m. Monday.

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The deputy wanted to know why Delacruz was walking in the middle of the street in the 38-degree weather, authorities said.

Delacruz allegedly became combative.

Authorities say he bit off part of the deputy's ear and tried to grab his gun.

Additional deputies arrived and helped subdue him.

Delacruz, who was on probation for kidnapping, was being held without bail.

Doctors could not reattach the missing part of the deputy's ear because of the risk of infection.