Gilroy Man Arrested After Biting Off Other Man's Ear

Steven Cortez, 40, of Gilroy was arrested early Christmas morning after he bit off a portion of another man's ear during a violent altercation.

Police responded to the 7-Eleven on Tenth Street shortly after midnight to find the 55-year-old victim missing a portion of his left ear, said Sgt. Chad Gallacinao of the Gilroy Police Department.

The victim was transported to a Bay Area trauma center for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Responding officers recovered the detached portion of his left ear, which was then transported along with the victim, Gallacinao said.

Cortez was discovered lying in the grass of an apartment complex behind the convenient store shortly after, and was subsequently arrested.

Cortez is being charged for suspicion of violating parole, and for suspicion of mayhem, which is a charge known to the department for the dismemberment of a body part during a conflict, Gallacinao said.

Information regarding the detached portion of the victim's ear being successfully reattached was not known during the point of contact.