Man bites, injuries San Francisco police officer

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KTVU) - An officer suffered a bite to his cheek along with other injuries after a suspect became combative. 

According to San Francisco police, an officer responded to the report of a partially nude man, talking to himself, while chasing people and throwing a branch at pedestrians. 

The incident occurred on Sept. 9 at 6:21 a.m. in the 3800 block of 25th Street in the Mission District. 

According to police, the officer announced over the radio that he was in a physical fight with the suspect. The suspect bit the officer to his right cheek, and he tried to gouge out the officer's eye, according to police. The officer was left with injuries to his face, right eye and cuts to his hands and abrasions to his forearms. 

Additional officers responded to the scene and struggled with the man who was resisting being handcuffed. Eventually, they were able to handcuff him. 

The man was identified as 37-year-old Robert Mathew Kaplan of San Diego. 

He was charged with felony battery on a peace officer, felony battery causing serious bodily injury, felony
assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, felony aggravated mayhem, and obstructing and
resisting a peace officer.

SFPD Mission Station Investigators are seeking the assistance of the public in providing any cell
phone video that may have captured the assault. Anyone with information is asked to contact
the Mission Station Investigation Team (SIT) during business hours at 415-558-5400, anonymously at the SFPD Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text-a-tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.