Man Bites Off Part of L.A. Deputy's Ear

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was able to overwhelm and arrest a probation violator who had bitten off a chunk of his ear and attempted to grab his service weapon during an early morning fight.

At 3:44 a.m. Monday, the deputy observed Miguel Delacruz, 41, walking in the 200 block of E. Palmdale Blvd. The deputy contacted Delacruz to find out why he was walking in the middle of the street in 38-degree weather, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Delacruz turned aggressively toward the deputy and started a fight, during which he bit off "a significant portion" of the deputy's left ear. The suspect then attempted to grab the deputy's gun from his duty belt. Although in pain, the deputy was able to retain his gun, overcome the suspect, and arrest him with the help of other responding deputies.

Delacruz was treated at a local hospital for injuries sustained in the fight. He was then transported to Palmdale Sheriff's Station and booked for attempted murder and mayhem of a peace officer. Delacruz is on probation for kidnapping and is being held without bail for violating the conditions of his probation.

The detached section of the deputy's ear was recovered and transported with the injured deputy to a local hospital to attempt surgical reattachment. Unfortunately, doctors decided the risk of infection was too great to try to reattach it, according to the news release.