LEWISTON – A local man who was punched while walking downtown in what appeared to be a random attack was hospitalized Thursday.

Witnesses said Punk Icee, 50, was walking on Birch Street when a man approached him and punched him, knocking Icee to the ground.

Icee, a fixture in the downtown area where he walks around collecting returnable cans and bottles, was taken to Central Maine Medical Center. He was later released.

When police arrived at the scene of the assault they found Icee unconscious on the pavement.

Officers searched the area, but the assailant was not immediately found. Later in the night, police were still investigating the attack.

Witnesses said Icee, who lives on Bartlett Street, was walking on Birch Street when the assailant approached him. They said the assailant punched Icee and then hit him with an elbow.

One witness said Icee was knocked out and had a cut on his head. Police said he regained consciousness and was able to speak to them in the ambulance.

It was unclear whether Icee and the suspect exchanged words before the assault.

Icee, who is known to walk the streets of both Lewiston and Auburn wearing a T-shirt and windbreaker, no matter what the weather, sometimes spends entire afternoons searching for bottles and cans.

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