Man accused of breaking baseball bat over friend's head during NASCAR argument to get competency exam
A Willis man who is accused of beating a friend with a baseball bat during a drunken argument over NASCAR last month was recently ordered to undergo psychological testing before a criminal case proceeds.
Henry Joe Parker, 47, will undergo testing for mental competency at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in York Township following a brief court appearance last week, records show. A competency hearing is scheduled for May 5.
Henry Joe Parker
Michigan State Police troopers arrested him Feb. 22 after a friend of both men called police to the apartment along Willis road and reported breaking up a fight. Troopers said Parker struck the man with the wooden bat and broke it over his head. He also hit him with a steel weight, they said. The 50-year-old victim was injured but further details were not available.
Parker was released from prison in September after serving more than six years for assault in Lenawee County, records show. He remains in custody without bond.
Art Aisner is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Ricebrnr
Tue, Mar 22, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
Bats are only made for hitting things hard. Time to ban them or at least license and register them if you can prove a need for one.
HeavyMental
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
Note to everyone... The comment section is not the place to try out your sad attempt at comedy.
stevek
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
Note to HeavyMental... I didn't know you ruled this section.
ShermanNC
Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 12:13 p.m.
Rodney In the South NASCAR is a religion!
Rodney
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
they say religion and politics are two things never to discuss with no one, I guess we need to make it three, add Nascar along with religion and politics.
Rodney
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
With friends like that , who needs enemies.
RJA
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
Michigan State Police, do what you have to do. Anyone as violent as this, needs help. Don't let him escape during transport, I live to close to the center.
smokeblwr
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.
I love Jeff Gordon as much as the next guy, but c'mon! Makes me long for the good old days of stock car racing when there was respect. The days of Dick Trickle.
Out County Gal
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 8:56 p.m.
How sad is that...He does need evaluating..
EyeHeartA2
Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
NASCAR? Braking a ball-bat over his friends head? Jeff Foxworthy or Tosh.0? Decisions, decisions.