"Civic Center Slapper Strikes Again," Says LAPD

A suspect the Los Angeles Police Department have dubbed the "Civic Center Slapper" has "struck again," say authorities.

The LAPD describes an incident from the evening of January 27, when a 51-year-old victim who works as a US attorney was walking near Aliso and Alameda streets in the vicinity of the Federal Building. "[T]he suspect approached from the opposite direction and punched him in the jaw, causing the attorney’s head to hit the wall of the building."

That same suspect is thought to be responsible for two similar previous attacks in the Downtown area. He is described as a 6-foot tall African-American male.

The victim in the January 27 attack provided further details about the suspect's appearance: "The suspect in the attack on the attorney has a medium build. He was wearing a white knit cap and a white sweater. The victim noticed the suspect had a “five o’clock shadow” of a beard on his face," notes the LAPD.

An arrest was made in January of a suspect, however that man was linked to a separate set of attacks; the current suspect is thought to be a copy-cat criminal.

“[W]e know we have at least one other man doing the same thing, and it appears he’s struck again," said Lt. Paul Vernon, head of detectives for the downtown area.