Tom GantertDenton, TX – A Texas man bit off a chunk of a police officer’s ear during a traffic stop Friday night after the man was suspected of drunk driving.
Christopher Rogers, 45, was charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault and assault on a police officer, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The police officer was identified as Sergeant Michael Rose and he lost about a half inch of his ear and also had injuries to his head, KDFW reported.
Rogers was stopped by police at about 11 p.m. Police officers noticed a small empty bottle of vodka inside Rogers’ car, according to the arrest report. The officer called for backup and then tried to get Rogers out of the car, according to KDFW.
“The suspect was being uncooperative with officers and refused to exit his vehicle after being commanded several times,” said Denton police spokesman Officer Bryan Cose, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Officers attempted to get the suspect out of the vehicle and gain control of him, but the male began to resist, punching an officer in the face in the process.”
Officer Cose said that at some point during the struggle, Rogers was able to get on top of the sergeant and bite off a piece of his ear, according to KDFW.
Police were able to get Rogers under control by using a stun gun on him several times. Rogers also kicked a paramedic as he was being transported to the hospital, according to KDFW.
“The officer, quite frankly, his body will forever be different now that he’s missing part of his ear,” Officer Cose said. “But it could’ve been a lot worse, especially where this traffic stop occurred on the side of the highway. What started out as an ordinary traffic stop – in this case, the driver was intoxicated – ended up with serious injury of one of our officers.”
Sgt. Rose is to return to the department on light duty as he recovers, KDFW reported.