Willis man accused of breaking baseball bat over friend's head during drunken argument
A Willis man was jailed this morning after Michigan State Police troopers say he broke a wooden baseball bat over his friend's head during a drunken argument about NASCAR at their apartment complex.
Henry Joe Parker, 47, is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and resisting and obstructing police.
Henry Joe Parker
Troopers say Parker hit his 50-year old friend on the head with the bat and a 5-pound steel weight during an argument at their friend's apartment on Willis Road. One of their friends broke up the fight and called 911, Sgt. Chris Pascoe said.
The victim was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, but Pascoe did not have details on his condition. Parker and the victim each had a blood-alcohol level of .19, troopers said.
Parker was jailed at about 7:15 a.m. today, officials said, after being checked out at the hospital. He was arraigned this afternoon, but bond information is not yet available.
State Department of Corrections records show Parker was released from prison in September after serving more than six years for a conviction in Lenawee County of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Stefanie Murray
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
Due to the high volume of inappropriate comments posted here that violated our conversation guidelines, commenting on this thread has been closed.
TinyArtist
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
This is what comes from government subsidies to NASCAR instead of more genteel persuasions such as the arts.
zip the cat
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 12:18 a.m.
Maybe he'll get luckey and get melinda morris and get probation. It seems to be the going sentence lately in the courts of this county,for most all crimes
treetowncartel
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 10:11 p.m.
Any idea what the discussion concerning NASCAR was about? Sunday was the tribute to Dale Earnhardt, marking the tenth anniversary of his death. Or, perhaps it was the fact the race that took place on Sunday was one by a 20 year old, the youngest driver ever to win the race. They could have been discussing the finer points for the rules and regulations. I think curiosity in general, makes the average reader want to know what the alleged topic was, that allegedly lead this man to assault another with a Louisville Slugger.
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 11:57 a.m.
What the heck differance what the argument was about . If found guilty the man should be locked up and the key thrown away. To hit anyone hard enough to break a bat is deploreable, and the hit him with a 5 pound weight on top of it all.
Mr. Ed
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
Another fine example of our prison system. Some people should just stay in prison.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 9 p.m.
daaaaannggg. w/friends like that, who needs enemies?!?
Jen Eyer
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.
Comments have been removed on this story for being off-topic and not contributing to the conversation, in accordance with our conversation guidelines.
Leaf
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
It is stuff like this that really should make people reconsider idiotic ideas, ideas such as Texas considering a bill to allow handguns on campus. Even more idiotic arguments have happened on campus than that of one over NASCAR. Could you even imagine the consequences if that were to pass. It is scary stuff and I am glad to be a few thousand miles north east from there!
Leaf
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
It is definitely the anger and lack of control of the person that is the problem, not the bat or the gun. But if I was to choose what the person had registered and on them when they decided to get angry, I would go for the bat.
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
Better start registering ball bats. Just goes to show that it isn't the guns causing the problems. Just anger control or lack of it.
John of Saline
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
According to that earlier article about "super drunks" being above .17, these two qualify (except for driving). I hope the bat was cracked already. That's impressive--in a scary way--to be able to break a bat that way. I wonder if it was the first swing.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.
It seems likely his 5 months of freedom September to February was merely half time of his incarceration. That of course only applies if he is guilty of the actions he is charged with. I'm NOT saying he's guilty mind you, only that the prosecutors have charged him with crimes.
Hillbillydeluxe
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
bac was checked? time to add a drunk driving charge for more court costs and insurance rates.
oldblueypsi
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 9:24 p.m.
Could be attempted drunk driving. They were thinking about driving, but were too drunk to remember where their car keys were.
Greggy_D
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
Ummm....who was driving?
RJA
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
OMG, after spending 6 + years for the same type of crime? I wonder who owned the bat? Isn't this a concealed weapon? Thanks to the State Police for the arrest. Please don't let this man back out on the streets. I guess (stupid) can't be fixed with either that showed this number of drunk. Glad neither were able to drive away on their own, even in the little town of Willis.
Atticus F.
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
'Concealed' means trying to hide something...So unless he somehow shoved the baseball bat down his pants, I probably isn't considered a concealed weapon.
Townie
Tue, Feb 22, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.
This man has some serious anger problems and really shouldn't be out and around society as this incident (and past ones) demonstrates. Is Public Safety going to keep the public safe from this man? One hopes so.