Chief Edward J. Walsh reports that the Taunton Police Department arrested and charged a man with a hate crime after he allegedly pistol-whipped a Raynham man late Thursday night.
JOSEPH AMARAL JR., AGE 59, of TAUNTON was charged with:
- Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
- Armed Assault and Battery to Intimidate Causing Bodily Injury
- Intoxicated Licensee Carrying a Firearm
- Civil Rights Violation
- Threat to Commit a Crime
- Vandalizing Property
- Improper Storage of a Firearm
AMARAL is expected to be arraigned today at Taunton District Court.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Taunton Police were dispatched to a parking lot on Bay Street for a report of a person who was pistol-whipped.
The three men that called police met the officers in the parking lot and told the officers that one of them, a 23-year-old Raynham man, had been pistol-whipped by AMARAL a short time ago outside of AMARAL’S North Avenue home.
The Raynham man was bleeding from his nose and had a bump on the side of his head. The man declined medical attention.
The victims told the officers that they were in a vehicle on North Avenue when the Raynham man exited the vehicle to go urinate on a nearby fence.
AMARAL was pulling his vehicle into his driveway and saw the Raynham man urinating on his fence. When the Raynham man went to go apologize to AMARAL, AMARAL quickly exited his vehicle and allegedly pointed a black pistol at the Raynham man.
AMARAL was screaming racial and derogatory remarks and obscenities at the Raynham man telling him to stay off of his yard.
AMARAL struck the victim in the head twice with the pistol and then pushed the victim into the fence and kneed him.
AMARAL then went to the vehicle where the Raynham man’s friends were watching the incident unfold and AMARAL struck and kicked the vehicle several times, causing damage to the front passenger window, front passenger door, rear passenger door and rear driver’s side door.
After hearing the same story from each of the three men, officers went to AMARAL’S home where AMARAL answered the door and invited the officers inside.
While speaking with AMARAL, officers observed a black pistol in plain sight on a kitchen counter that was similar to the one described by the victims.
AMARAL, who appeared to be intoxicated and was slurring his words, was placed under arrest and the pistol was seized as evidence.
During a protective sweep of AMARAL’S home, officers located and seized three rifles, two shotguns, a revolver and boxes of ammunition. AMARAL’S license to carry a firearm was also seized and was sent to the state for review.
It should be noted that the department is aware of a video of the incident circulating on social media that refers to AMARAL as “Taunton’s finest.” AMARAL is not a member of the Taunton Police Department and is not believed to be a member of any law enforcement agency.
“This type of racism, bigotry and violence will not be accepted in our community and any acts of racism or violence will be aggressively investigated by our officers,” Chief Walsh said.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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