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(Journal file photo)

A man was knocked out cold by a stranger as he stepped off a bus in Jersey City this afternoon but police say it is not an example of the so-called "knockout game" which has been the topic of heavy media attention recently.

Tony Nguyen, 19, of Jersey City, was arrested after 3:16 p.m. incident at Newark and Hoboken avenues and charged with aggravated assault, police spokesman Robert McHugh said.

Responding officers spoke to the 23-year-old Lyndhurst man, who said he was getting off the bus when he was punched by a man he had never seen before, a police report says. The victim said he lost consciousness briefly and woke up on the ground, the report says, adding that he had severe pain in his jaw and swelling.

A 19-year-old woman and 21-year-old woman who had been walking with the attacker told police the assault was unprovoked and they did not believe the attacker knew the victim, the report says.

The women also said the attacker invited the victim to get up and punch him but the victim was unable to get up and so he ran away, heading south on Summit Avenue, the report says.

Police got a description of the attacker and Nguyen was arrested a few hours later, officials said.

Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said that based on the investigation, "police believe that the suspect acted in anger because of a dispute he was having with a female companion who was with him at the time" and apparently exorcised his anger by slugging the Lyndhurst man.