The incident happened after Houma Police Department (HPD) officers responded to reports of a disturbance at Joni B’s Bar on Howard Avenue at 12:16 a.m. local time on November 12.

Once there, officers found several women fighting in the parking lot and attempted to break up the brawl.

In a Facebook post shared on Monday, HPD Lt. Travis Theriot said: “As officers arrived they were attempting to separate several females that were fighting in the parking lot.

“During the altercation, a female suspect whom was identified as Michelle Smith b/f 36 years old of 208 Leslie Street began to bite the ear of one of the responding officers.”

The post continued: “During the struggle, Michelle Smith completely bit a large portion of the right ear completely off and she fled the area before she could be apprehended.

“The officer was transported to a local medical facility where he underwent treatment and is currently recovering from the injury.”

HPD officers have since issued a warrant for Smith’s arrest in reference to one count of second-degree battery.

Officers have since asked the public to come forward with information, which they hope could lead to them locating and arresting Smith.

People can submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stopper Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org.

Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to the arrest of Smith.

A photo shared in the Facebook post showed Smith wearing a blue hooded top and hoop earrings smiling at the camera.

Newsweek has contacted the HPD for comment.

According to Justia, a website specializing in legal information, a person found guilty of second-degree battery in Louisiana “shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.”

It describes second-degree battery as being committed “without the consent of the victim when the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury.

“For purposes of this article, serious bodily injury means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death.”