Waynesboro police officer has part of ear bitten off in struggle with suspect

A Waynesboro police officer had part of his ear bitten off late last night during a violent struggle with a 22-year-old man who had fled on foot from a traffic stop.

An officer had stopped a car with three occupants on B Street in the city at approximately 10:50 p.mM. when he detected the presence of illegal drugs. The officer requested assistance and when other officers arrived the subjects were asked to exit the car.

This is when the front seat passenger, Robert Mitchell Martin, who became agitated, fled the scene on foot and two of the officers gave chase.

One of the officers caught Martin after a brief pursuit and he resisted violently, resulting in the bite to the officer’s ear. Ultimately the suspect was taken into custody, and has been charged with five offenses, including malicious wounding of a police officer.

The officer was taken by Waynesboro First Aid Crew to Augusta Health where he was treated for the injury to his ear and subsequently released.