The man arrested for allegedly sucker-punching comedian Andy Dick outside a French Quarter club this weekend told New Orleans police that the 53-year-old entertainer grabbed his genitals before he hit Dick in retaliation, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation said Wednesday.

A representative of Dick's team on Wednesday countered that David Hale's version of events has been changing since the incident and reiterated that the attack on the comic was unprovoked.

"Hale doesn't have a straight story," the rep said. "He's told several different stories."

Nonetheless, the law enforcement source said police will now investigate whether Dick may have also committed a crime before he himself was a victim of a 46-year-old David Hale.

+2 Man accused of punching comedian Andy Dick in the French Quarter has been jailed The man accused of sucker-punching comedian-musician Andy Dick outside a French Quarter club early Saturday is in jail.

According to the source, Hale claims he had watched Dick perform at One Eyed Jacks, in the 600 block of Toulouse Street, and was saying goodbye to him when Dick “grabbed Hale’s genitals.” Hale told investigators he became incensed, and Dick reacted by winking at him, ultimately leading Hale to punch Dick, the source said.

Hale for now faces battery counts in the case; police have not accused Dick of any wrongdoing.

Police believe Hale punched Dick after the comic-musician finished performing about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. Surveillance video of the ambush — which WWL-TV first aired Tuesday — shows the man identified as Hale step from behind a woman on the sidewalk and throw a haymaker that landed on Dick’s head. The comedian had been leaning against the outside of the club but was walking away.

Dick’s head hit something near the club’s wall, which a witness said was a parked motorcycle, then bounced off the sidewalk as he fell. He lay motionless on the ground as bystanders surrounded him as if to help.

The attacker picked up a beer bottle from the curb and walked away as some people chased after him, including a woman who tripped to the ground as she ran behind him.

Dick said Monday that he was “knocked out 100 percent for 15 minutes” and was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for brain bleeding. Guitarist Paris Dylan, who performed alongside Dick, said the comic was unconscious after the attack.

See video: Comic Andy Dick appears to have been blindsided by punch outside New Orleans club Comedian-musician Andy Dick was walking away from a French Quarter club early Saturday when a man stepped from behind a woman on the sidewalk …

On Wednesday (Aug. 14) Dylan said that he was "grateful the NOLA police were able to act so swiftly and catch the assailant." In a text message Dylan said that he first encountered Hale in the dressing room before the show.

"This is definitely the man I saw before Andy went on stage in the green room area," he wrote. and it's the same man that I saw punch Andy and walk away. I feel this was premeditated and he was out to severely injure, if not kill."

Hale is also accused of punching a second man, who was among the group of people who had chased Hale around the corner from the club. Dick’s camp said they obtained Hale’s identity from people who were with Hale at One Eyed Jacks at the time of the attack.

Louisiana State Police troopers initially responded to the scene outside the club but did not make arrests, issue citations or obtain warrants. New Orleans police said they then received a complaint about the case on Monday, and — with the assistance of a tip to the local Crimestoppers chapter — Hale was jailed early Wednesday on one count each of second-degree battery and simple battery.

The more serious charge is second-degree battery, which is a felony that can carry up to eight years in prison. Simple battery, which is a misdemeanor, calls for a maximum of six months’ imprisonment.

Dick may be best known for his role on the mid-1990s NBC television show “NewsRadio” and later appeared in feature films such as “Road Trip” and “Inspector Gadget.” Controversial behavior both during and in between performances has punctuated his career.

For example, the Variety website reports that Dick was charged in 2018 with sexual battery. He quickly denied the claim before pleading no contest to lewd conduct and battery as part of a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid jail time, an MSN.com report stated.

He was the subject of a substance abuse intervention in 2012 on his own Internet television show, “Andy Dick Live!” And in 2007, he famously earned an ejection from Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show for stroking Ivanka Trump's leg during an interview segment.

Robert Couvillion, the promoter of Dick’s One Eyed Jacks appearance, said that the comedian hadn't acted out during his appearance in New Orleans. “Andy was on his best behavior,” Couvillon said Monday. “Some of his shows are a little wilder. Every show is different. This show was mostly storytelling. He didn’t disrespect anyone.”

Dick cancelled a second New Orleans appearance during the Red Dress Run later on the day on Saturday, but appeared briefly, seated in a decorated wheelchair, at The Art Garage on St. Claude Avenue on Sunday. Asked on Monday if he planned to recuperate in New Orleans, Dick said that he needed to go home.

He was scheduled to appear at a Huntington Beach California club The Rec Room on Tuesday. It’s unclear whether he performed.

The allegations about Dick that Hale purportedly made to police could fit Louisiana’s definition of sexual battery, which is a felony that can carry up to 10 years in prison.

No bail amount for Hale has been set as of late Wednesday morning.