Attack on Milwaukee's east side: Man allegedly beat stranger

MILWAUKEE – A Greenfield man is accused of punching another man in the face, breaking his jaw, during an altercation in July on Milwaukee's Lower East Side.

Prosecutors charged 21-year-old Cole Slotke with aggravated assault and criminal damage. The indictment states that the victim never attacked Slotke or retaliated against him.

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It happened around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, near Arlington and Kane, just north of Brady Street. The victim was spitting up blood while speaking to police, the complaint states, and said a man he did not know punched him in the face.

Prosecutors said a witness identified the attacker as Slotke. Police went to Slotke's apartment on July 31 and arrested him. The victim later identified him as the attacker from a photo lineup.

According to the complaint, surveillance video from the victim's home showed Slotke kicking a fence in front of the house. When the victim went out to see what was going on, he walked out of camera view with Slotke. The two then reappeared and the video showed Slotke ripping the victim's shirt.

The video showed the victim walking back to his house while Slotke clenched his fists and shoulders “as if he was going to strike,” according to prosecutors. There was a pause in the confrontation during which the two exchanged words and Slotke walked out of camera frame.

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Prosecutors said Slotke then ran back and punched the victim in the jaw. The victim again tried to walk away, but Slotke ran at him and punched him in the face again. Slotke then fled the scene.

According to court documents, Slotke first appeared in court on September 17. His bail was set at $5,000.