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[TexasStooge]

Police say man bit off co-worker's ear

Two were reportedly fighting over money at distribution plant

By TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News

MOUNTAIN CREEK, Texas - A 21-year-old man bit off a co-worker's ear Tuesday evening at a Mountain Creek distribution plant during a dispute over money, police said.

Doctors reattached Anthony Tran's ear, though they initially believed they would not be able to do so, police said.

"We've had ... [situations] where they've bitten the complainant, but not where they actually tear off the ear," said Deputy Chief Alfredo Saldana.

Mr. Tran's co-worker, Ray Leon Jefferson, has been accused of aggravated robbery. He is being held in the Dallas County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

The dispute between Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Tran, both of Arlington, erupted about 5:25 p.m. Tuesday at the plant of Strategic Partners, a distributor of medical uniforms, in the Mountain Creek Business Park.

According to a police report, Mr. Jefferson asked Mr. Tran, 21, for change for a $100 bill. Mr. Tran pulled a $20 bill and a $50 bill from his wallet. The suspect took both bills and put them in his right front jacket pocket, the police report said.

Mr. Tran told Mr. Jefferson to return the money, police said. Mr. Tran held a pen to the suspect's stomach, a scuffle ensued, and Mr. Tran's ear was bitten off, a police report said. Police said Mr. Jefferson spit out the ear.

"They were able to locate the ear," Chief Saldana said.

Police said they found the $20 and $50 bills in Mr. Jefferson's jacket pocket. Mr. Jefferson told police that he and Mr. Tran had argued about the ownership of the $50 bill, the report said.

Strategic Partners recently relocated its distribution plant from Los Angeles to Dallas. The new 242,000-square-foot distribution plant opened just over a month ago.

Police said the men did not appear to have a history of problems.