Southeast : MISPLACED IDENTITY

Authorities originally suspected foul play, but the manager of rap trio Cypress Hill is attributing his two-day disappearance last weekend to a bout of amnesia caused by a blow to the head.

Happy Walters, 28, was found unharmed in a Long Beach hotel Saturday night. He had last been seen at 5 p.m. Thursday when he left his West Hollywood office. He claims he was hit on the head by an assailant during an ATM robbery.

On Saturday afternoon, police say, a man matching Walters’ description checked himself into St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach, complaining of amnesia. He was released, but a policeman who took the hospital report recognized Walters’ face on MTV later that evening.

Authorities tracked Walters to the Long Beach Airport Marriott. Sheriff’s deputies seemed to buy Walters’ amnesia story, though the case is not closed.

“It’s very strange,” said sheriff’s Detective Tim Miley. “But it isn’t against the law not to know who you are.”