3:18 PM PT -- Cops are now on the hunt for the man who attacked Myles Garrett, TMZ Sports has learned.
Here's what we now know ... the Cleveland Police Dept. was called to the scene to respond to the attack, which took place in Downtown Cleveland around 2:55 PM on Wednesday.
Garrett told police he was on the phone in his car when a man in a 2007 Chevy Cobalt pulled up next to him and asked for a pic. Garrett told the man to hold on while he finished his call but eventually agreed to a pic.
But, after the man snapped his shot, Garrett told police he balled up his hand into a fist and socked him in the face. The man then got into his car and fled the scene.
3:17 PM PT -- However, cops say they got the license plate of the Chevy -- which traced back to a man named Richard Perez -- and Garrett was able to positively I.D. Perez as his assailant.
Now, cops are on the hunt for Perez ... but so far, they haven't released a photo of him to the public.
Keep your eyes peeled -- if it could happen to Myles Garrett, it could happen to anyone!!
2:16 PM PT -- The Browns have addressed Garrett's claims ... saying they are aware of the situation and have notified "appropriate law enforcement."
Cleveland Browns superstar Myles Garrett says he just got sucker punched in the face by a "fan" who asked him for a picture ... and now he's clowning the attacker on social media.
Garrett -- who's 6'4", 272 lbs -- says he was inside of his car Wednesday when the "fan" flagged him down and "hopped out his car to take a picture with me."
"I cracked the window enough for the camera to get my face," Garrett says ... but when the guy got close, he socked Myles right in the face.
23-year-old Garrett -- the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft -- didn't seem fazed one bit ... comparing the punch to a "pillow tap."
We reached out to police in Cleveland and nearby areas but, so far, no signs of a report being filed.
Instead, Garrett is taunting the guy on social media ... "Hm, put your legs into it might have actually made me flinch."
Garrett says he didn't retaliate because he knows that would make him a prime target for a lawsuit.
The Browns are on a bye week -- so it's unclear if the incident even took place in Cleveland, but we're working on it.
Garrett is a monster in the NFL ... he's widely considered one of the best pass rushers in the game and he already has 9 sacks in the 2019 season.
Originally Published -- 12:37 PM PT