As much of the country patiently waits to see what sort of justification can be offered for Texas police having a reason to kill unarmed teen Christian Taylor, allow us to jet over to Revere, Massachusetts for the curious case of Joseph M. Parker.
The 34-year-old man is said to have hopped out of his vehicle in a construction zone after officers told him he was driving too slow, only to deliver vicious fades to law enforcement, with one officer, Lt. Jeremiah Goodwin, reportedly suffering a concussion. After being subdued and arrested, he then allegedly attacked three more officers in the precinct while ranting about the turmoil in Ferguson.
Afterwards, a bloodied Parker defiantly saluted in his mugshot photo for the Sulfolk County jail house.
Police tell WCVB that they assume the incident to be a drug-induced attack, a claim that his legal counsel basically backed up.
His lawyer Daniel Fitzgerald says Parker was on a medication and suffered an adverse reaction during the crazed punching spree. He has also served prison time for selling drugs but this past instance is his first recorded violent offense.
Parker is due back in court on September and is charged with assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was also held on $25,000 bail.
Meanwhile all seven officers are expected to recover from their injuries. We’re guessing they’ll be commended for showing restraint in the situation?
Parker’s ridiculous mugshot can be seen in full on the next page.
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Photo: Suffolk County District Attorney
