A man was beaten with a baseball bat at a Court Street property late yesterday afternoon resulting in a heavy Police presence as officers entered a building near the junction with Ewing Street.

They reportedly found a 33-year-old man ?cowering and reeling? having been assaulted. There was no immediate sign of the assailant or assailants who carried out the attack.

The Police Service last night dismissed claims by some eyewitnesses that armed officers had stormed a number of adjoining properties carrying guns, shields and ladders.

Two different versions of events were being reported following the drama in Court Street that started around 5.15 p.m.

Police media relations officer Dwayne Caines said officers were called to a report of a man being beaten up by assailants using a baseball bat.

He said the victim was found ?cowering and reeling? from the assault and had injuries consistent with having been attacked by an object such as a baseball. The victim was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Mr. Caines said the person or persons responsible for the attack were still being hunted. He did not believe an armed response unit had been called to the scene.

Later in the evening Police media relations officer Robin Simmons also said he had no reports of armed Police being called and said the large number of officers at the scene may have been necessary if it was believed there were assailants carrying a weapon in the vicinity.

A strong Police presence was evident for more than an hour after the start of the incident as officers and detectives appeared to carry out checks on one of the properties set furthest away from the road.

A Police dog handler was seen leaving, while another officer carried a short ladder back to a Police van.

A number of eyewitnesses on Court Street told they had initially seen seven Police officers carrying guns and shields jump from a Police van and run towards the property. They were quickly followed by more officers, who were said to be carrying two small ladders. ?It looked like they were going to use the ladders to climb over the gate between the houses but when they got there the gate had already been opened,? said one man. Another witness said: ?The armed force went in and then the detectives went in. After that the armed people came out and left. Then I saw them bring a man out and take him away in handcuffs.?

There was speculation locally, and reported last night by ZBM News, that the raid was connected to the triple shooting at the nearby Swinging Doors nightclub in Court Street last week.

However, Police spokesman Mr. Simmons said that, from the information he had received, the incident is not being linked to anything else.

Police have asked for anyone with information about the baseball bat assault to call 295-0011.