Police: Man beaten with wooden plank in head and face

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Police are investigating after they say officers found out about an assault when the victim who was beaten with a wooden plank showed up at the hospital.

Wilmington Police say it happened just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday on 41st Street near Tara Court. Officers say the two victims told them that’s where they were walking when a Toyota Tundra with several men inside stopped across the street.

Police say the victims told officers five unknown men got out of the truck and began approaching them when one of them started yelling at the youngest man, saying he stole a cell phone. When the victim denied the man’s claims, that’s when police say the group got angry, one of them holding a wooden plank.

Officers say one of the suspects started swinging the plank at the younger man, hitting him in the head and face. Police say the two victims ran away from the area before the suspects took off in the truck they were driving.

Officers say they didn’t find out about the assault until several hours later, when hospital staff treating the beaten victim called them to report the crime.