Police: Man’s ear bitten off during bar fight

Published 12:00 pm Friday, February 13, 2015

FAIRMONT W. Va. — After reviewing surveillance video, police believe a man bit off another’s ear during a bar fight on Saturday.

Eric D. Vangilder, 44, was arrested Thursday and charged with malicious wounding for an incident that occurred Saturday at the Copper House Grill in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia.

According to the criminal complaint, deputies with the Marion County, West Virginia Sheriff’s Department responded to the restaurant after Allen Lee Wisenbaler, 44, told dispatchers that his ear had been bitten off by Vangilder.

Deputies say the two men got into an fight inside Copper House that then moved outside. Video surveillance of the incident was reviewed by deputies. According to the complaint, video footage of the fight shows Vangilder moving his head back and forth a little and then separating from Wisenbaler.

The complaint states that Wisenbaler then checked his ear and noticed blood on his hands.

According to the complaint, Wisenbaler’s ear was found by the cigarette stand outside of the bar.

Deputy Caleb Krepps states in the complaint that both Vangilder and Wisenbaler consumed alcohol before the altercation.

Wisenbaler was also arrested and charged with battery.

Gallagher writes for the Times West Virginian.