Religious discussion sparks assault downtown, police say

Businessman suffers black eye in attack

MADISON, Wis. — Police said a businessman suffered a facial injury after a man attacked him downtown.

The Madison Police Department said a Michigan man, in Madison on business, was kicked in the head on State Street early Thursday morning while engaged in a conversation about religion and evolution.

The 51-year-old victim told police he was having a discussion with a couple of older men at about 3 a.m. when a young man joined the debate. A bit later, the younger man pushed the businessman, then kicked him in the head, police said.
The businessman suffered a black eye.

An area homeless man, who had been part of the conversation when it was cordial, helped the victim back to his hotel where they called police. Police said the witness also provided an officer with valuable information regarding the attack.

Police described the attacker as white, in his late teens to early 20s, about 6 feet 2 inches tall with short dark hair. He was clean-shaven, had a slender to medium build, and wore jeans, a long-sleeve blue shirt and green and white striped boxers.