CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said a company police officer was punched repeatedly and knocked out during an altercation in uptown Friday night.
The incident happened around 6:00 p.m. near the transit center. The area of 4th St. near Trade and Davidson was closed for a time while the situation was under investigation.
The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old Reginald Lewis Alexander.
CMPD said G4S Company Police Officer Jeffery Outen got into an altercation with Alexander who was loitering on the property. Investigators said Officer Outen had asked the man to leave multiple times, but he came back.
“When he tried to restrain him, it's like he wasn't having it,” said Thomas Smith, a witnessed to the assault.
Investigators said Alexander punched Officer Outen in the head several times, knocking him to the ground where he hit his head on the sidewalk. Police said the man kept beating Outen while he was unconscious.
Other officers with G4S Company Police arrived on scene and arrested the suspect. CMPD officers responded as well.
Officer Outen was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He had multiple stitches, a broken nasal bone and a damaged orbital socket.
Alexander has been charged with assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement officer.
The brutal attack followed several cases of violence in uptown last year including a 17 year-old who was kidnapped, robbed and assaulted at the transit center over the summer. Within hours of that crime, three men were arrested for a brawl outside the Epicentre.