Elyria Man Pleads Not Guilty to Biting Off State Trooper’s Ear

An Elyria man was recently arrested and charged with aggravated assault after biting off part of a state trooper’s ear. During his trial, the man pleaded not guilty, invoking reasons of insanity. The state trooper has been treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Elyria Man Caught Sleeping in the Middle of the Road

According to the police report, the subject of the recent scuffle which led to a state trooper losing part of his ear, begun after a woman called 911 and told the authorities that a homeless man was sleeping in the middle of the road.

The woman also told the authorities that the man appeared to be in an advanced stage of drunkenness and feared that he might be hit by a car. Lance Deshuk, a state trooper with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, was dispatched to the scene in order to investigate.

Once there, the law enforcement officer found the Elyria man, later identified as Cornelius Carey Jr., sleeping in the middle of the road and paying no attention to the passing motorists. According to Deshuk, he tried persuading the Elyria man to leave the road, at which point Carey Jr. reportedly became violent and threatened the officer.

Upon trying to subdue the individual, Carey Jr. jumped Deshuk and bit him by the ear. A woman passing by saw Deshuk wrestling with the Elyria man and called the authorities. Several minutes later, Deshuk’s colleagues came in order to offer assistance, but the state trooper managed to subdue him.

On Tuesday, while in court, Carey Jr. pleaded not guilty to the charge of aggravated assault, pleading insanity. Jack Bradley, Carey Jr.’s attorney, declared that his client has a history of mental issues and that it’s always a good idea to bring in a specialist to confirm the diagnosis.

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