ICYMI: Salem Officer Sues Suspect, Bar After Losing Part of Her Ear

SALEM, MA — A rookie Salem police officer has filed suit against a suspect and a local tavern after losing a portion of her ear during an arrest outside the bar on Aug. 7.

Officer Jessica Rondinelli filed suit in Lawrence Superior Court on Aug. 25 against Emma Wiley, 19, of Marblehead and JMRS Restaurant, Inc.; the owner of Tavern in the Square on 189 Washington St. in Salem in pursuit of lost wages, medical expenses and other damages including scarring, according to the lawsuit.

Wiley was charged with mayhem, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer, threatening to commit a crime, disorderly conduct and having a false identification after allegedly biting off a portion of Rondinelli's ear as she was being placed into a police car following a fight outside of Tavern in the Square in Salem.

She plead not guilty to the charges, but was ordered held without bail after Judge Allan Swan found her to be a danger during a 58A dangerousness hearing.

The lawsuit alleges that officers were dispatched to Tavern in the Square at 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 7 and found that Wiley was one of the participants in a fight outside of the bar. According to the suit, Wiley lunged at Rondinelli's face as she was being placed into the police cruiser and bit down on her ear, refusing to let go.

Doctors at Salem Hospital were unable to re-attach the outer portion Rondinelli's ear, according to Essex County Assistant District Attorney Megan MacKenzie.

The lawsuit also alleges that JMRS Restaurant, Inc. was negligent in serving alcoholic beverages to Wiley, who is underaged, as well as serving a patron who was exhibiting "outward signs of intoxication."

The Essex County District Attorney's office stated that Wiley was in possession of a false identification at the time of her arrest.

A manager from Tavern in the Square declined to comment on this story. Rondinelli's attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

Editor's Note: This story was derived from information provided by the Essex County District Attorney's Office and Lowell Superior Court. It does not indicate a conviction.