Man accused of biting off earlobe in assault

A man arraigned in Associate Circuit Court today on charges of felony assault and burglary is accused of biting off a love rival's left ear lobe, said Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Christopher A. Beal, 23, of 909 Hackberry St. Apt. 210, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp for initial arraignment. Shortly before midnight Tuesday, officers responding to a report of a possible stabbing arrived at the Hackberry Apartments and observed Beal chasing the victim around some cars in the apartment complex parking lot, Glueck said.

According to statements from Beal and his victim, who is male, the two were arguing over a woman when the victim went inside his apartment and Beal followed, Glueck said. Beal displayed a butcher knife, but the victim and the woman involved were able to push him out the door.

Beal began knocking loudly at a window and the victim went outside where a physical fight started, Glueck said.

"They both fell to the ground and Beal bit off the victim's lower earlobe," Glueck said.

Police recovered the severed lobe and the victim was taken for treatment at a Cape Girardeau hospital but doctors were unable to reattach it, Glueck said. The knife was recovered as well.

Beal is being held on $50,000 bond.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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