Man allegedly bites off, spits out part of officer's finger during arrest in Denver
DENVER (KDVR) – A man in Colorado allegedly bit the tip off of an officer's finger during an arrest Saturday, according to the Denver Police Department.
The incident unfolded after officers responded to a possible domestic violence call in an alley behind a restaurant just after 1 p.m.
A witness said the man, identified as Tyron Brooks, 48, was in the street yelling about someone pushing his friend down, according to the arrest affidavit. The witness described him as out of control.
When officers arrived, they saw a man standing over a woman sitting on the ground. According to the affidavit, she appeared terrified.
The man was standing with one foot in front of the other and was moving his hands as though he was ready to fight, all while yelling erratically, the arrest affidavit said.
Officers asked to speak with Brooks, but he refused to move away from the woman. The officers then tried to talk with the woman, but Brooks allegedly blocked her from standing up and told them she couldn't speak with them.
Brooks turned toward the woman and put his face near hers, yelling at her again, according to the affidavit. He then allegedly put his hand over her mouth when she tried to speak to officers.
Officers grabbed Brooks' arms to prevent him from striking her, according to the affidavit. During a scuffle, Brooks allegedly pulled his hands toward his waistband, where police believed he may have had a concealed gun. They then brought him to the ground, where he continued to resist, the document states.
Brooks then turned over onto his back, where he was allegedly able to bite through an officer's left ring finger.
The bite completely severed the tip of the officer's finger. Brooks then turned his head and spat the tip of the finger out, according to the affidavit.
Brooks was eventually handcuffed and arrested with the help of other responding officers. He has been booked into jail on an investigative hold for second-degree assault on a peace officer.