Cops share more details on probe of stomper

Okay, some more detail for you on the case of the stomped MoveOn worker.

Lexington police say they're looking to talk to one Tim Profitt, who is believed to be Rand Paul's Bourbon County coordinator, on the strength of numerous tips they've received.

However, cops are looking to talk to many other people, too, according to Sherelle Roberts, a spokesperson for the Lexington cops. But the police do want to interview him, and are currently trying to contact him, she tells me.

"It is safe to say that we are investigating that name along with many others that we have gotten today," Roberts says. "We are working to make contact with him as soon as possible. As soon as we make contact with him, we will be questioning him."

Based on the Paul campaign's most recent statement, Paul aides have identified the assailant, or at least someone who played a key part in the melee. The Paul campaign said in that statement that they have "disassociated itself from the volunteer who took part in this incident."

Robert says cops will be asking the Paul campaign for the identity of the person.

However: It looks as if this may not result in an arrest. Based on the footage of the incident, cops are treating the case for the time being as a fourth degree assault case, which puts this in the realm of domestic violence scuffles and barfights, she tells me. She says they're treating this as a "misdemeanor, not a felony."

Cops have to witness a scuffle like this firsthand in order to make an arrest, she adds. If they do identify the suspect, the victim, Lauren Halle, has the right to ask a judge at Fayette district court to bring charges. In other words, this is likely to be up to the court.

More soon.

UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: The Lexington police confirm it in a statement, adding that Profitt is now a suspect (I've edited the above to clarify):