LAWRENCE — Police were still investigating last night whether an alleged beating victim received his injuries in a car accident early yesterday instead of from a vicious attack, as reported by witnesses.
"We know his brother had an accident right around the corner about 20 minutes before the reported assault," Lawrence police Chief John Romero said last night.
"At this point, we're not sure what happened and will have to see if that accident has any relevance to what happened to the man. Obviously, we have witnesses who said somebody assaulted the guy. But we need to check that out," the chief said.
Shortly after 2 a.m., police responded to a call from a man lying in the middle of the intersection at Arlington and Lawrence streets.
"The unidentified male was bleeding from the nose, mouth, back of his head and permeated the odor of alcohol," Officer Adam Goujan wrote in his report. The officer noted the man had $2 in his pocket but no wallet or identification. The man was taken to Lawrence General Hospital and later transferred to a Boston hospital.
With the help of a fingerprint taken by state police as the man lay in a hospital bed, the victim was later identified as Filberto Jimenez, 21, of 94 Bennington St, first floor, Lawrence. Romero said the man was still in serious condition last night.
A witness told police that he saw Jimenez beaten by three of four men, who were "kicking and stomping on the victim's head."
Romero said police are now suspicious of that story after learning about the accident in which Jimenez's brother was involved.
The man's brother told police he dropped Jimenez off at a party about 11 p.m. Saturday.
