


A man accused of carrying a leather bag full of drugs in Tennessee allegedly strangled the police officer who arrested him — and bit off a chunk of his ear, cops said.
Marcus Johnson, 43, was arrested on Tuesday at around 5 a.m. when a Memphis officer pulled him over and discovered his car was outfitted with license plates that belonged to another vehicle, WREG-TV reported.
During the stop, the officer said he saw Johnson throw a brown leather pouch on the ground and proceeded to provide identification information that actually belonged to a female driver.
When the officer moved in to arrest Johnson, the suspect allegedly grabbed the cop in a chokehold and began strangling him.
Johnson then took a bite out of the officer’s right ear, tearing off a piece as he began punching the cop in the face and chest, according to court records.
The suspect also took the officer’s gun and Taser during the brawl, but the cop was able to retrieve it and subdue Johnson, police said.
When other officers arrived, they found that the leather pouch Johnson allegedly tossed away contained drugs, including: marijuana, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy and Xanax.
Both the officer and Johnson were taken to the Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis for medical treatment.
Investigators later found that Johnson’s license had been revoked and that he was also driving without proof of insurance, according to an affidavit.
Johnson was charged with attempted murder in the second degree, resisting official detention and criminal impersonation.
He was also hit with four counts of possession of controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, deliver or sell, driving while license suspended, violation of financial law and violation of vehicle registration.
Johnson was booked at the Shelby County Jail and was expected to appear in court on Thursday.