Police report an attempted robbery occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, April 6, in the parking lot of a Botsford fast food restaurant. The violent incident sent the victim to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Police received a call requesting help about 4:40 pm, stating that an attempted robbery had occurred in the parking lot behind Five Guys Burgers & Fries at Waterfall Plaza at 255 South Main Street (Route 25).

Police report that a young black man confronted a young white man in the lot, demanding that the white man give him the keys to his motor vehicle. The white man, whom police did not identify, refused, after which the black man struck him in the face, heavily bruising him and knocking him to the ground.

The black man then fled the scene, entering a vehicle that was driven away by a black female. Several people witnessed the incident, according to police.

The victim was transported to Danbury Hospital by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Police described the incident as “a crime of opportunity,” involving a random interaction between two strangers. The incident was not a case of road rage, and was not the result of a drug deal that had gone bad, police said.

“This was an individual who wanted to steal a car,” said police spokesman Lieutenant Aaron Bahamonde.

Police are investigating and have a suspect in the incident, Lt Bahamonde said. An arrest is expected, he added.

Robbery and attempted robbery are rare crimes locally.

According to local crime statistics, the number of robberies in Newtown in 2018 was low, with two cases reported to police that year, compared to three such incidents in 2017. In 2016 and 2015, there was one robbery reported each year.