This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City police say one of their officers was in good condition and recovering at home after doctors reattached his ear, severed during a struggle with a male suspect early Wednesday morning.

The male officer, described by SLCPD Detective Veronica Montoya as a veteran, was injured shortly after responding to a 911 call reporting a suspicious person pounding on the doors of units at the Pauline Apartments, just after midnight near 125 S. 300 East.

The suspect allegedly grabbed a piece of decorative wrought iron and struck the officer on the head, causing the ear injury.

Montoya said the officer's ear was stitched back onto his head; doctors also stitched a gash on his forehead.

The officer, aided by other officers arriving on scene, was able to subdue the suspect with his baton and Taser, and the man was arrested. After being checked out at the hospital, Leon Hall, 23, was booked into Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and criminal mischief.

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