This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Bite off a man's ear. Spit on a police officer. Go to jail.
That is what Clinton police say happened, resulting in a second-degree felony charge of mayhem being filed Wednesday in Farmington's 2nd District Court against a 31-year-old Clinton man.
The man was arrested early Saturday morning after an officer was dispatched to a Maverik station at 1036 W. 1800 North. The officer found two men fighting, and during the scuffle the suspect allegedly bit off a 2-inch chunk of the other man's ear.
The suspect reportedly told police he was fending off sexual advances, though he also admitted to being intoxicated. He was arrested, but while being driven to the Davis County jail, he allegedly became combative and spat at the officer at least three times, striking him on the face once.
According to court documents, the officer pulled over to close the glass window between himself and the suspect in the backseat, but the man began kicking the window and ultimately had to be restrained with leg straps and a spit hood.
If convicted on the mayhem charge, the man could face 1 to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The man also faces a class A misdemeanor count of "propelling a bodily substance" at a peace officer.
He remained in jail Thursday on $10,000 bail.