Police: Man Who Beat Father To Death Had Served Prison Time

Buford, GA — A Buford man who police say beat his father to death with a crowbar and punched a police officer was an ex-convict who had completed a prison sentence for another violent crime last year.

Joseph Allen Cook, 40, was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated assault on Oct. 25, 2013 in Troup County, but he served barely more than two years of that sentence in prison. He was released Nov. 23 of last year and was on parole at the time of Wednesday's attack.

Cook faces charges of murder and aggravated assault in the death of his father, 68-year-old Larry Cook.

Gwinnett County Police were called Wednesday evening to the family's home on Bridle Glen Drive, where witnesses said Joseph Cook beat his father with a crowbar in the driveway.

Cook, who police say went inside and told his stepmother what he had done, was arrested without incident outside the home. But, after he was transported to Gwinnett County Police headquarters for questioning, he punched a female police officer in the face, according to a news release.

Police said Friday that the officer suffered a broken nose.

She had transported him to headquarters and was removing Cook's handcuffs, and once they were off, Cook "punched her in the face in an unprovoked attack," police said.

The officer backed away and two detectives restrained Cook until more officers arrived.

Gwinnett Police added charges of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer and felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer for the alleged attack.