Man, 19, faces arraignment for allegedly biting officer

By Neal Putnam

A 19-year-old suicidal man who held a knife against his own throat and body during a standoff with sheriff’s deputies in Ramona will be arraigned on March 13 on a charge of battery on a peace officer.

Irvin Moreno allegedly bit a sheriff’s deputy Feb. 12 at an apartment in the 700 block of A Street after he wouldn’t allow members of his family to leave. Moreno is also charged with resisting arrest by an executive officer, but he is not charged with any other crimes involving the incident.

Moreno’s uncle called 911 around 6:38 p.m., saying that Moreno was suicidal and was holding a knife to his own chest and throat. Deputies were able to get a woman and two children from the rear of the apartment, and the uncle was also able to get out the front door. The standoff lasted about two hours while deputies talked to him, but Moreno began stabbing himself and that’s when deputies stopped him. He became combative to emergency personnel and then allegedly bit the deputy.

Moreno was taken to a hospital and released without any charges filed right away. The District Attorney’s office filed the two felony counts in El Cajon Superior Court on March 1, and sent him a letter informing him of the arraignment date and time. He is free on bail.