Man bites off significant part of deputy's ear
Booked for attempted murder and mayhem of a peace office
PALMDALE, Calif.—A 41-year-old man who was walking in the middle of a street in Palmdale in 38-degree weather early yesterday morning tried to take a gun from a sheriff’s deputy who had stopped to help him and bit off a “significant part” of the deputy’s ear, authorities said.
The bizarre attack occurred at 3:44 a.m. in the 200 block of East Palmdale Boulevard, according to sheriff’s Palmdale Station Detective Mike Baker.
The deputy wanted to ask Miguel Delacruz why he was walking in the middle of the street on such an inhospitable morning and escorted him to his patrol car, Baker said.
Delacruz, who is on probation for kidnapping, suddenly turned aggressive toward the deputy and assaulted him. A fight was on when the deputy, whose name was not released, defended himself and Delacruz bit his ear, Baker said.
The deputy was in great pain, but managed to keep Delacruz from taking his gun, Baker said.
With the arrival of additional deputies, Delacruz was handcuffed and arrested, Baker said.
Delacruz was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries from his fight with deputies, and then booked for attempted murder and mayhem of a peace office. He is being held without bail.
The detached part of the deputy’s ear was also taken to a hospital where doctors tried to surgically reattach it, but decided not to because the risk of infection was too high.
LOS ANGLES, Calif.—Residents can safely dispose of unused and expired medications at participating police and sheriff’s stations on Saturday, authorities said today.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department will hold disposal stations as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take-Back Day.
SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—A Canyon Country man who was sought in connection with the slaying of his wife was found dead on the outskirts of Las Vegas, the result of suicide, authorities said today.
The body of 59-year-old Dusan Klein was discovered by hikers Thursday evening, said Deputy Mark Pope of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
LANCASTER, Calif.—A Quartz Hill woman was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison for the March 2009 death of her 18-month-old daughter, whom she initially claimed was taken from her in a violent kidnapping.
Superior Court Judge Hayden Zacky imposed the term on Stacey Marie Barker, 26, who was convicted May 24 of first-degree murder, assault on a child causing death and child abuse for the March 18, 2009, slaying of her daughter, Emma.
LANCASTER, Calif.—A Quartz Hill woman convicted of murder and other charges in the death of her 18-month-old daughter, whom she initially claimed was taken from her in a violent kidnapping, is facing a 25-year-to-life prison term.
Stacey Marie Barker, now 26, is set to be sentenced June 17 by Superior Court Judge Hayden Zacky for the March 18, 2009, slaying of her daughter, Emma.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Police Department can have access to personal tape recordings between Charles Manson follower Charles D. “Tex” Watson and his late attorney that investigators believe might hold clues to unsolved killings, a federal judge in Texas ruled Tuesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Schell ruled that Watson waived his right to attorney-client privilege in 1976 by allowing his attorney to sell the tapes for $49,000 to the man who co-authored Watson’s memoir.
