Stoughton man arraigned on multiple firearm, police assault charges

BOSTON, July 31, 2025 – A Stoughton man is facing firearm and assault charges after being arraigned Monday in Dorchester BMC for an incident where he violently resisted arrest and injured police officers during booking, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

JOSHUA COOPER, 36, of Stoughton was charged with possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, assault and battery on a police officer, and resisting arrest.

Judge Jonathan Tynes set bail at $3,000 and ordered Cooper to stay away from the location of the offense. Cooper is due back in court on September 18 for a probable cause hearing.

Around 3:00 a.m. on July 26, Boston police responded to a ShotSpotter activation at 32 Gleason Street in Dorchester. Officers saw a large group congregated in the street.

A man, later identified as Cooper, walked up to officers with his left hand inside his pocket and asked, "do you want to see my badge?"

Officers observed an empty holster on the right side of Cooper’s pants and handcuffed him after a brief struggle.

While officers walked Cooper toward a cruiser, a Jeep key fob fell out of his pocket. Officers used the fob to locate the Jeep, which was parked across the street from the ShotSpotter activation and in front of a fire hydrant.

Officers opened the driver’s side door and saw on the floor a tan and green Smith & Wesson handgun with a 12-round magazine. The gun had one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine.

Cooper told officers he did not have a license to carry and a CJIS query confirmed.

While at Area B-2 station for booking, Cooper refused to allow his hands to be placed in "hand preservation bags" designed to preserve evidence of gunshot residue.  He violently resisted and assaulted officers. He clutched both of his hands toward the front of his body before attempting to punch officers. Several officers were knocked onto the floor during the struggle.  One officer sustained a laceration to his right elbow.

Cooper served four years in state prison starting in 2014 for motor vehicle homicide.

“As if being charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition wasn’t serious enough, this man apparently chose to multiply his offenses by resisting arrest and assaulting police officers. His actions resulted in an officer being injured and more charges for himself,” Hayden said.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications