ATLANTA - The man police dubbed as the "Midtown Puncher" is once again throwing punches and appearing before a judge, according to investigators.
Police were called to the 1000 block of Peachtree Street on Sunday. Officers located a victim bleeding from the nose inside a restaurant. The 46-year-old man told investigators he was walking on the sidewalk when, out of nowhere he was struck in the face with a closed fist. The victim said that the assault was unprovoked and he doesn't' know the man who struck him.
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Several witnesses told police they tried to follow the suspect, but lost sight of him around Crescent Avenue.
On Monday, the potential suspect was identified as Curtis Bethea. Investigators said surveillance images matched similar descriptions to Bethea and the victim positively identified Bethea as the person that assaulted him when shown the surveillance images.
Bethea was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. He was taken to the Fulton County jail.
In the jail courtroom Tuesday morning, a solicitor read off the total number of prior arrests, 27 in all, some of those for similar alleged acts. The solicitor asked the court to keep Bethea in jail. The judge concurred.
When contacted at his Atlanta home, the victim said he was not feeling well and declined a request for an interview.