Summary A man accused of biting off his cousin's ear lobe has pleaded not guilty.
STAMFORD (AP) - A Connecticut man accused of biting off his cousin s ear lobe and swallowing it during a fight over loud music has pleaded not guilty to assault and other charges.
Twenty-seven-year-old Emilio Mendoza, of Stamford, was arraigned Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court and ordered held on $50,000 bail.
The Advocate of Stamford reports (http://bit.ly/12EaWlh ) that Mendoza s cousin and roommate, 31-year-old Clemente Perez-Ruiz, also pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assault and disorderly conduct charges connected to the brawl. A good portion of his left ear was missing.
Stamford police say the two men were intoxicated and started fighting after Perez-Ruiz asked Mendoza to turn down the music. Police say Mendoza admitted swallowing the ear lobe.
Mendoza s lawyer said he hadn t seen the police report detailing the allegations and declined to comment.
