Police fear man's ear was swallowed following urination brawl

SEATTLE -- Officers believe a man may have swallowed another man's ear following a fight late Thursday night.

Seattle police received calls of an assault around 10 p.m. in the 100 block of 10th Avenue East. Once they arrived, a bleeding, 23-year-old victim told police a man walked into his yard and began to urinate. The victim told the 21-year-old suspect and his girlfriend to get out of the yard and the suspect -- allegedly upset he was told to leave -- assaulted his own girlfriend.

The victim grew alarmed at the fight and stepped in and tried to stop the brawling couple. However, the suspect allegedly got the better of the victim and bit the man's ear off.

After taking a bite out of the man, the suspect allegedly fled the area with the ear. Officers spotted him near Cal Anderson Park with a mouth covered in blood, police said. He was arrested by police and booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault.

The ear was not found at the scene, and when the suspect was asked by police if he'd swallowed the appendage,he allegedly looked at police and smiled.

The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

Police are still looking for the ear.