PALMDALE — A suspect bit of a large portion of a deputies ear and tried to grab the deputy’s gun during an arrest early Monday, authorities said.
Miguel Barcenas De La Cruz, 41, was booked on suspicion of mayhem and attempted murder of a peace officer, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials and county booking records.
The incident began just before 3:45 a.m. Monday as a deputy was on patrol in the 200 block of East Palmdale Boulevard, Detective Mike Baker said in a written statement. The deputy encountered De La Cruz who was walking in in the middle of the street in the 38-degree weather.
As the deputy tried to escort De La Cruz to his patrol car, the suspect suddenly attacked the deputy and a fight ensued, officials said.
“During the minutes-long fight, suspect De La Cruz bit off part of the deputy’s left ear,” Baker said.
The fight continued, and De La Cruz allegedly grabbed the deputy’s gun and tried to take it, Baker said.
“Although in pain from the loss of a significant portion of his ear, the deputy was able to retain his gun as he tried to overcome the suspect and arrest him,” he said.
Other deputies arrived as the struggle continued and helped take De La Cruz into custody, authorities said.
The deputy was treated and released from a hospital.
“Unfortunately, the doctors decided the risk of infection was too great to try and re-attach (the severed portion of ear,)” Baker said.
The missing portion of ear was described by officials as about 1-inch by 1 and a half inches.
De La Cruz, who Baker said was already on probation for a previous kidnapping conviction, was being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles after being treated for injuries suffered in the fight with deputies.