MAN ASSAULTED WHILE
WALKING DOWN STREET

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A Catawba County man tells police he was injured Sunday night after several black male suspects robbed the man in Lincolnton, stealing $60 from him.

Lincolnton Police officer Dwayne McAlister responded to Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln Monday night just before 8 p.m. and spoke with the victim, identified as 21-year-old Michael Todd Beal of Newton.

Beal told McAlister he was walking down South Grove Street, when one of the suspects approached him and asked why he was walking through that particular part of town.

The victim said he responded by saying "it was a free country" and that's when the attack happened.

During the attack, one of the suspects took the victim's wallet and removed the money, throwing the wallet on the ground.

The victim had to run away to escape his attackers.

Beal said he couldn't identify any of the suspects involved because it was too dark.

The case is under investigation by Lincolnton Police detectives.