Man bites officer during arrest in Koreatown, LAPD says

A 20-year-old man who was approached by police in Koreatown after he was reported to be following someone bit a responding officer in the arm during a struggle that also left another officer with an injured shoulder, police said Tuesday.

“The teeth marks are predominant,” said Sgt. Dino Caldera. The bite drew blood, he said. The man was arrested on suspicion of mayhem.

The confrontation began about 9 p.m. Monday at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, Caldera said, when a pedestrian flagged down two LAPD officers and said the man, whom he did not know, was following him.

“As soon as they made contact he turned violent,” Caldera said.

The man bit one officer in the bicep; the other officer injured his shoulder during the struggle, Caldera said.

The man was ultimately subdued and taken to a hospital. Police said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was suffering from dehydration and other medical issues.

He was booked early Monday and was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.

The officers were treated at the scene and released.

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