Police investigating bizarre Salem assault

SALEM – Police were summoned to a residence at 12 First St. Thursday and followed a blood trail, which led them to the victim of an alleged attack in the elevator.Officers spoke with a security guard around 8 p.m. Thursday, who said he found a pool of blood in front of the elevator on the 5th floor.The security guard said he went into the elevator and found more blood, so he took the elevator up one floor, and when he exited, he found a trail of blood on the 6th floor going down the hallway and up the stairs to the 7th floor, which he then followed to room 712.After knocking on the door, the guard spoke to a man who was holding a sponge on his face, trying to stop the bleeding on his face. The guard said he was going to call the police, but the male said he was going to the hospital.At the hospital, officers found the victim in the waiting room, who said he was in the elevator earlier in the day and that there were a few people in there that he did not know.When the elevator got to one of the floors, the victim said everyone got off except for a black male, approximately 5’10, 200 lbs, with short black hair. When the door closed, the victim said the suspect tried to grab his IPod and cellular phone.When he resisted, the victim said he was punched once in the face. When the door opened, the suspect reportedly ran out. The victim said he thought the suspect had something covering his knuckles when he was hit.Reportedly dazed and confused from the assault, the victim said he could not supply further information and that the suspect did not get his cellular phone or IPOD during the scuffle.The victim was advised to contact the police if he could think of anything more or if he saw who assaulted him.