Harper
An argument last week at a Jupiter marina over who was going to clean a boat ended with one man in a brawl with deputies, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph Harper, 36, was arrested for aggravated assault with a weapon, battery on a law enforcement officer, three counts of assault and three counts of resisting arrest. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail early Sunday on $15,000 bail.
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The victim and Harper had been out fishing all day and began to fight over who was going to clean the boat at Jonathan’s Landing Marina, according to the arrest report.
The victim said that Harper jumped off the boat, grabbed a white filet knife and ran at him. He tried to stab the victim three times, who was able to defend himself by using fishing poles.
As the victim was telling his story to deputies, Harper tried to leave in a Lexus SUV. The deputies flagged him down, and he began to curse, saying there was no reason to take him out of his vehicle.
The three deputies continued their investigation and found probable cause to arrest Harper. As they left the marina, the 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound, Harper removed his seat belt and his handcuffs in the back seat of the officers car, and began to punch the windows, the arrest report says.
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As deputies open the car door to restrain Harper, he swung at a deputy and hit his jaw. One deputy punched Harper back but was still unable to detain him.
The fight continued as all three deputies tried to control Harper, who was still swinging his arms and legs with a deputy’s knee in his back.
That wasn’t enough to keep him down, though, as he threw the deputies off his back and got back up on his feet, according to the report.
One deputy used his baton on Harper’s leg and another used his stun gun before Harper was finally put back in handcuffs and leg restraints.
He was taken to Jupiter Medical Center before being taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.
Harper has no previous felonies, according to court records.
