Man Hit In Face On Greenway, Not Sure Why He Was Targeted

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities man is recovering after an attack on a busy section of the Greenway Bike Trail.

Chad Bates was walking to his vehicle Saturday night when a man hit him in the face. The attacker eventually ran off, but the incident left Bates injured and shaken.

In the past, Bates has had no problem walking along the Greenway near West Grant Street.

"I didn't think, you know, anything of it," he said.

But Saturday night's walk in that area is one he won't forget.

"I don't know what he was gunning for," Bates said. "I didn't make eye contact as I walked through the park."

A man walking towards him suddenly attacked. Within a matter of seconds, Bates had several facial injuries. Monday morning, he had six stitches in his eye, three more in his broken nose and extensive swelling around the injuries.

Bates wasn't knocked out by the hit, but he realized he wasn't out of danger.

So Bates ran away quickly with his face bleeding. On Monday, there was still a path of blood on the ground showing the route he took as he ran to safety.

The attack happened in a well-lit area where police don't receive a large number of calls. Every day, people walk or bike the route, at all hours of the day, with no problem.

The randomness of the run-in still has Bates wondering why he was targeted.

"I would definitely be more observant of surroundings of who's coming at you or what's coming around you," he said.

He said he was not on his phone or listening to an iPod, all the things that police say can make you a target.

Police haven't made any arrests.

The attacker is described as a black man about 6-feet, 2-inches tall, with a medium build. He was between the ages of 25-30 and was wearing a baseball cap and a dark shirt.

If you have any information about the suspect, call police.