Dorchester man charged with punching out cop in early-morning downtown melee

Boston Police report that a man spotted throwing somebody against a wall early this morning turned on police with four of his buddies.

... At one point, the suspect struck the officer with either a clenched fist or an unknown object. The blow rendered the officer temporarily unconscious. After a brief foot pursuit, officers located the suspect and four other males in the lower level of the parking garage. ...

Other officers then subdued Edward Franklin Douglas, 28, of Dorchester, and arrested him on a charge of assault and battery on a police officers. The other four men were charged with disorderly conduct, police say. The officer was treated at Mass. General.