Man accused of biting off part of his boyfriend’s ear
Phoenix police arrested a man suspected of biting off part of his boyfriend’s ear during an altercation over an alleged affair, officials said.
Edward Gomez, 25, was taken into custody Thursday after he and his boyfriend got into a physical altercation in an apartment bathroom, court records said.
Officers responded about 5:30 p.m. and found the victim in the parking lot of the apartment complex “holding part of his left ear in his hand,” police said.
The injured man told police he and Gomez were in a relationship for three years. He said the altercation was verbal at first and that it turned physical after Gomez cornered him in the bathroom.
The victim told officers the altercation took place at about 5 p.m. The injured man told officers that he asked Gomez for help, but Gomez refused and left the apartment seconds after the incident.
“Edward later returned to the scene and was arrested,” police said.
Officials said Gomez admitted to being in a physical altercation and biting his boyfriend’s ear but said it was in self-defense because the boyfriend had cornered Gomez in the bathroom. Both men claimed to be the one who was cornered.
The victim was transported to HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center. At the time of the incident, officials were unsure if doctors were going to reattach the man’s ear, police said.
Gomez was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault at a Maricopa County jail, where he is being held on a $7,500 bond. Gomez made an initial appearance in court on Friday but is scheduled to return for arraignment Feb. 14.