Man accused of biting off part of prostitute's ear

A man bit off a piece of a prostitute's ear in Shoreline Sunday night because he thought she was trying to leave without providing sex, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The quarter-sized piece of her ear was recovered from a garbage can in the man's kitchen, police said, but physicians at Harborview Medical Center were unsure whether it could be reattached.

According to deputies, the man found the woman through an ad on Craigslist and invited her to his Shoreline home.

They agreed upon a price and she was paid, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart.

Before the deal was consummated, the 44-year-old woman moved toward the door to get better reception on her cellphone, but the man thought she was trying to leave, police said.

"The fight was on," according to Urquhart.

Urquhart said the woman fled and made her way to Northwest Hospital, where Shoreline police were called. After investigation, police said, the 54-year-old man was arrested and the piece of ear retrieved.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com