BATON ROUGE - Police say they arrested a man accused of assaulting BRPD officers with what police described as a “black assault weapon” Monday morning.

The Baton Rouge Police Department reports that a uniformed officer, driving a marked police car, saw a vehicle driving recklessly in the 4200 block of Prescott Road. As the officer was observing the vehicle, he saw it drive over a curb and into a fence located at 4201 Prescott. The officer then saw 28-year-old Joshua Parker exit the vehicle, appearing agitated as he walked toward an apartment with a firearm in hand.

Officers said they approached Parker, and instructed him to put down the weapon. Parker refused and approaching officers saying “Y’all are going to have to shoot me” as he pointed the weapon in several directions. Officers said they were able to eventually convince Parker to place the gun on the ground before they took him into custody.

Investigators said they learned Parker had just physically abused his wife prior to his encounter with officers, and that he wanted police to kill him. Officers said they later learned that the weapon Parker was brandishing was actually a pellet gun.

Parker was booked into the parish prison on charges of reckless operation, aggravated assault on police, possession of alcohol, domestic abuse battery, switched plate and expired MVI.