Assaulted by a kiss? Man's lip bitten off

A White Center woman was arrested for investigation of assault after authorities say she bit off the bottom lip of a man she had been kissing.

The 49-year-old man's lip was found after the Monday night assault, but doctors at Highline Hospital in Burien say it could not be reattached, King County sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart said.

Deputies were called to a White Center house, where the man and woman live, around 11:30 p.m. Monday and found the 49-year-old man sitting on the front steps exclaiming that his ex-girlfriend bit his lip off, Urquhart said.

The man told deputies that the two were kissing in bed when the 44-year-old woman bit off his lip and "spit it out," Urquhart said. When the deputies went inside the house the woman cursed at them and struck one of them with a pillow, Urquhart said.

Deputies are investigating whether the woman had been drinking, Urquhart said. The home where they live is an unofficial "clean and sober" residence rented by two men and two women who are recovering from alcohol and/or drug dependencies, Urquhart said.

The man told deputies that he and the woman used to date but were now just friends.

The man's bottom lip was found on the floor in one of the bedrooms. It was covered in hair, which deputies determined was "likely from a cat," Urquhart said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com