DETROIT — The top half of a man’s ear was bitten off Saturday night during a party game, according to police.

Christopher Young, 21, of Pittsfield, was treated at Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield early Sunday morning after the top of his ear was bitten off. He was released later. Police said Aaron Wiles, 20, also of Pittsfield, allegedly bit the top of his ear off during a game of “caps.”

Maine State Trooper Paul Stewart said that witnesses at the party on Route 100 described the game this way: a row of people sits on the floor on one side of the room and another row sits opposite them on the other side of the room. A hat is placed in the middle of the room and participants try to flip beer bottlecaps into the hat. The more intoxicated a person, the more difficult the game.

According to Stewart, witnesses said Wiles became angry when Young reached over and took some of his bottlecaps. A scuffle broke out and the ear was bitten off.

Stewart could not locate the ear at the party, but learned during interviews with witnesses on Sunday afternoon that one partygoer admitted he had taken it home and was keeping it in his freezer. Stewart retrieved the ear but said Young’s plastic surgeon said it could not be restored.

Wiles was charged with assault, said Stewart. The incident is under investigation for possible alcohol-related charges because of underage participants, he said.