LAMBERTVILLE: City man victim of assault

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — A 59-year-old city man suffered “substantial facial injuries” when he was assaulted in his apartment early April 7, according to Lambertville police.
   Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said the incident was “not a robbery or any kind of random crime,” and investigators believe the altercation was between two friends or acquaintances.
   The police director declined to name the man they are seeking to question in connection with the assault because of the ongoing investigation. The man is known to frequent the Lambertville area, he said.
   ”He just came in and started pounding me,” the victim reported when he called police about two hours after the assault had occurred, according to Mr. Cocuzza.
   ”He got his face beaten up pretty good,” the police director said of the victim, who police said had been drinking alcohol. “He had substantial facial injuries, possibly a broken jaw and injuries to both eye sockets. He said it was done by fists. The guy basically beat his lights out.”
   Police were summoned to the apartment at about 3:30 a.m. on April 7. Mr. Cocuzza estimated the time of the assault at approximately 1:30 a.m.
   The victim was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where his injuries were treated, according to police.
   The injured man lives alone in an apartment on Church Street, police said.
   Investigators are uncertain what led to the assault, and the victim was not forthcoming with that information, according to Director Cocuzza. “The perp had a beef with the victim,” he said. “A personal big beef. We don’t know the provocation.”