Moments Before Knocking Officer Unconscious and Injuring Others, Suspect Referenced Ferguson: Police

Massachusetts police say a man accused of assaulting several officers made a reference to the events in Ferguson, Missouri before his attack.

Police in Revere, Massachusetts say that Joseph Parker, 34, punched an officer who was stopping traffic so that construction workers could remove traffic cones from a roadway shortly after midnight on Aug. 11. The officer was knocked unconscious and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and head injuries.

Another officer suffered a severe leg injury while fighting with Parker, police said.

Police say Joseph Parker assaulted several Massachusetts police officers. (Image courtesy of the Revere Police Department)

Lt. Amy O'Hara, a spokeswoman for the Revere Police Department, told TheBlaze two officers total were sent to the hospital and "at least four others" were injured. According to a release from the police department and obtained by TheBlaze, seven officers were assaulted total.

O'Hara could not confirm exactly what Parker said about Ferguson — only that a police report noted that he referenced it.

"I know why you stopped me," Parker allegedly told a lieutenant as he pulled his car up next to him. That's when police said Parker got out of his vehicle, began to shout expletives and assaulted the lieutenant.

According to the release, two passengers in Parker's car attempted to restrain him as another officer checked on the unconscious lieutenant.

"Meanwhile, three more officers responded to the scene and attempted to take Parker into custody as he struggled and resisted those efforts," the release states. "Once he was handcuffed and placed in a cruiser, he allegedly kicked the rear window until it cracked, removed his shoes, and wedged his feet through the grate surrounding the rear compartment in a bid to kick it out entirely."

Police said the officers then removed Parker from the vehicle in an attempt to calm him down. After they assessed he was calmer, they attempted to put him back into the police vehicle, but Parker allegedly began to kick the officers. One officer used his Taser in order to subdue Parker.

Once at the station, Parker reportedly continued to be aggressive as police attempted to book him.

"Parker allegedly backed into a corner, crouched into a boxer’s stance, and raised his fists, challenging the officers to fight him," the release said. "As several officers attempted to calm him down, another walked into the room to assist and Parker allegedly rushed him and punched him in the face. This led to another struggle in which one officer suffered leg injuries requiring treatment at [Massachusetts General Hospital] and three others suffered cuts and abrasions. The metal detector in the booking room was knocked to the ground and damaged during the incident. Parker was finally handcuffed and secured in a cell."

WCVB-TV reported that Parker appeared to be under the influence of drugs, according to police, but Parker's attorney claimed he was on medication that could have altered his behavior.

The Boston Herald said Parker, who is white, is single and unemployed.

O'Hara said Parker was photographed shirtless in his mugshot in order to document his tattoos.

Parker was arraigned Aug. 11 on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest for his alleged actions earlier that morning.

Chelsea District Court Judge Michael Patten set Parker's bail at $25,000.