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Driver charged after 7 Revere officers injured during arrest

Joseph Parker was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on charges of assaulting Revere police early Tuesday morning, including knocking out one officer.Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

CHELSEA — When a Wakefield man knocked a Revere police officer unconscious early Tuesday, he was just getting started, authorities said.

Joseph ParkerRevere Police Department

Joseph M. Parker, 34, brawled with several other officers and tried to kick out the window of a police cruiser, in an incident that began when he was ordered to stop while construction workers removed cones from a road, according to a police report.

Parker pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Chelsea District Court to charges including four counts of assault and battery on a police officer, as well as disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and destruction of property. A judge set bail at $25,000 cash.

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In addition to the officer who was knocked unconscious, six others were injured by Parker, authorities said. Two were assaulted during his arrest and four more were assaulted at the police station.

In court Tuesday, Parker was calm. He had several scratches on his face. Defense attorney Dan Fitzgerald said Parker had never been charged with a violent crime before, and he may have been on medication that influenced his behavior.

“There is a lot more to this case than meets the eye,” Fitzgerald said.

According to the Revere police report filed in court, officers ordered Parker to stop around 12:40 a.m. Tuesday in a construction zone near Revere Beach Parkway and Mill Street.

Parker said, “I know why you stopped me,” yelled obscenities, and referred to events in Ferguson, Mo., before punching an officer in the face, the report said. The officer fell backwards, hit his head on the ground, and was knocked out, police said.

Other officers revived the injured lieutenant, who was confused and unable to answer simple questions. The officer suffered a concussion and was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital, the report said.

Two passengers from Parker’s car restrained him as he attempted to attack another officer, according to police. Parker’s companions said he struck the first officer for “no apparent reason,” the report said.

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It took several officers to drag Parker to the ground, handcuff him, and place him in a cruiser. While in the car, Parker attempted to kick out one of the vehicle’s windows and wedge his feet in between the cage bars, according to the report.

One of the officers deployed a Taser on Parker after he began “kicking violently and wildly at officers,” but the device had little effect, the report said.

Parker’s story changed several times while talking to police. He could not explain why he allegedly assaulted the officer and said he had only slapped him, the report said.

A mug shot of him released by police showed him shirtless, raising his hand in a salute.

Parker became violent again when officers asked him to walk from the booking area to the cellblock, according to the report. He stood in a boxing stance with hands up and challenged officers to a fight before rushing toward one and punching his face, the report said.


Monica Disare can be reached at monica.disare@globe.com.