SEATTLE -- Some residents and business owners in the city's Belltown's neighborhood are calling for an increased security after a local surgeon became the victim of a late-night beating in the area.

Peter Choi, an otolaryngology doctor with the University of Washington was involved in a first fight near the corner of Third and Cedar around 2 o'clock in the morning on Sunday. He suffered a serious brain injury. As of Wednesday, he was in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center.

A Seattle Police report says Choi was walking with friends after visiting a Belltown club. Witnesses told police there was argument between the group and two unidentified men. During the argument, Choi was punched in the face and hit his head on the ground during a fall. No arrests have been made.

It's the second attack in a little more than a week that took place around bar closing time and involved an apparent visitor to the Belltown area.

In late April, a woman who wanted to remain anonymous was attacked after she inadvertently walked in front of a passing car. She said after the driver hit the brakes, a passenger got out and punched her in her face, breaking her eye socket and several teeth. The attacker has not been caught.

Street crime is nothing new to Belltown, but some residents and business owners admit the latest attacks appear to be random and more violent than those seen in the past.

"I think there's been an increase in the actual violence of the violence," said Zander Batchelder, president of the Belltown Community Council.

Batchelder, a 12-year resident of Belltown, doesn't want to paint a picture of a crime ridden neighborhood, but he admits the crime on the street is becoming more obvious.

"There's everything from sex in the alley to crack smoking to drinking, to prostitution. It's a daily event back there 24 hours a day," said Joe Corsi, the manager of the Concept One complex on Second Avenue.

He's talking about the alley way that runs behind his building. Corsi says that alley way has become such a hot spot for criminal activity that one of his tenants began posting videos of people smoking crack cocaine, urinating, drinking and engaging in prostitution on a YouTube site entitled "Belltown Crime."

The question now being asked is what can be done to turn the tide of violent crime. Batchelder believes residents, businesses and visitors need to take more responsibility for their actions. But he said an increase police presence is also necessary.

"I don't think they've been diligent enough. I don't think they've made it a front and center issue that it needs to be" he said.

For years, Belltown residents and business have chosen not to create its own security force that the neighboring Metropolitan Improvement District has done.

Just a few blocks away in the downtown core, businesses and condo owners pay $75 per year per unit to support safety team that routinely patrols the downtown core during the daylight and early evening hours. The 32 person member full-time team operates seven days a week.

I believe it has reduced crime and been a deterrent" said David Dillman, vice president of operations for the Metropolitan Improvement District

The safety team is very obvious. Each member wears a bright blue and yellow jacket. Dillman suggests that the safety patrols are working so well that some of downtown criminal activity has moved to Belltown.

"I think Belltown has unfortunately absorbed some of the activity" said Dillman.

Belltown leaders and land owners have chosen not hire or create a private security patrol. The neighborhood has also refused to join the Metropolitan Improvement District and employ its patrols.

"To be honest, a lot of the condo associations are opposed to it because it would be an additional tax", says Batchelder.

Corsi says he'd gladly pay an extra tax for the patrols.

"I would still be for it and yes, I think it's needed," he said.