Father, son say police started fight, tasered them in courtroom

A father and son were fighting a speeding ticket in Ferndale, Michigan's 43rd District Court when a fight broke out between them and police, resulting in the father and son being Tasered and arrested.

Earlier this week a judge ruled that Joseph Riddle, Jr. had to pay a fine for the speeding ticket he was trying to fight in court. Joseph Senior says when he started asking questions, a police officer pushed his son.

"I asked him when the last time the radar had been checked," said Joseph Riddle, Sr. That's what he believes set police off.

Police claim Joseph Junior took the first swing at police, with his dad getting involved in the fight, after the two refused to leave the courtroom. When asked if Junior punched the cop first, he said, "No, I did not. He pushed me first, and I turned around and asked him don't push me and that we (were) going downstairs to pay the ticket, and then... I don't know, somebody came from behind and got to choking me." The fight moved out into the hallway from the courtroom where it became even more violent. Joseph Junior claims he was slammed into a fire extinguisher, and he now sports bandages where his wrist was cut. Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson said, "Finally, they (officers) were able to subdue and handcuff them, but they were forced to use Tasers in order to apprehend both of them, finally get them handcuffed." Both Riddles were arrested for resisting and obstructing police. They plan to fight the felony charges as they feel they were treated unfairly. Joseph Riddle, Sr. claims, "I know they (are) making it up. They are lying. I'm 64 years old. I'm not going to tag (a) bunch of police." Although cameras are usually rolling inside the courtrooms, Fox News were told they were not because this was an informal hearing.