Ohio State Patrol reduces the population of Jeffersonville

[Vex]

Here is a small portion of the news story:

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/20/20060220-B1-03.html

Driver pulled over on suspicion of DUI fatally shot while struggling with trooper
Monday, February 20, 2006
Aaron Marshall
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



A state trooper fatally shot a Jeffersonville man after the man opened fire on the officer during a traffic stop in Fayette County early yesterday, authorities said.

Errol T. Baker II, 26, of 15 Vine St., was struck in the upper body by a bullet fired by Trooper James Cress, an officer with the State Highway Patrol post in Wilmington, according to the patrol.

Baker, who had an extensive arrest record including pending drugrelated charges in Highland County, was stopped at 1:47 a.m. yesterday under suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

The patrol said Baker’s car had crossed the center line before Cress pulled him over on Rt. 753, about 2 miles south of Rt. 35. After Baker got out of his car for a field sobriety test, the two men struggled, the patrol said.

Baker fired one shot from a handgun at Cress, the patrol said. Cress then shot Baker at close range with his .40-caliber service weapon.

Baker’s family questions whether the patrol’s account is accurate.

"There are just a lot of questions right now," said Mindy Baker, the older sister of Ty, as the father of three was known. "We’d like to get some answers."

An eyewitness to the shooting, a friend of Ty Baker’s who was in his car, told Sally Baker, Ty Baker’s mother, that she heard only one shot.

"She told me that she seen him put up against the car, they went to the ground and she heard only one shot," Sally Baker said.

Family members also said that Ty Baker was shot in the back of the head.

A camera mounted on the dashboard of the trooper’s car captured the shooting, according to Lt. Shawn Davis. Davis said the patrol is certain that Baker fired his weapon and that Cress returned fire with at least one shot.

"We aren’t for sure at this point how many rounds (Cress) fired," Davis said.

Cress, who has been with the Highway Patrol since December 2004, was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, which is standard procedure.

Baker was taken to Fayette County Memorial Hospital and later transported by helicopter to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where he died yesterday morning.

An autopsy will be conducted today by Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis.

Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said Baker was due in court this April to answer to a list of charges stemming from a three-county drug investigation that netted nine arrests.

Baker had been indicted on one count of engaging in corrupt activity, 12 counts of trafficking in cocaine, one count of illegal manufacture of drugs, one count of discharging a firearm close to a home and two counts of possessing weapons as a felon.

Baker was a "major target" of the drug investigation, Ward said.

The sheriff said he had a history of violence and left a trail of felony arrests.

"Based on his prior history, it doesn’t surprise me one bit," Ward said of yesterday’s shooting.

Yesterday afternoon, as family members gathered quietly at the Jeffersonville home of Ty Baker’s father, Errol Baker Sr., Mindy Baker remembered the good times she had on a 2004 cruise she took with her brother, a 1997 Miami Trace High School graduate.

"We loved the beaches and we went to all of the little clubs around Miami," she said. "Just doing what 20-somethings do when they have a good time."

Mindy Baker said the family was told the patrol’s tape of the shooting won’t be released to them until Tuesday at the earliest.

"I just want to see the tape and know for myself the truth," she said.

A few of the news TV channels showed the video last night. Very interesting how long this guy had to give up. In the video, the trooper takes the guy out of the car to do a sobriety test, but before that checks the guy for weapons. The guy has a .45 under his shirt, and before it's found he begins to fight with the officer. A few seconds into the fight, the suspect's gun falls out of his pants and hits the dirt. The fight is on for the gun, and the suspects gets it, but the trooper is on the guy's back and has him face down on the ground. Then the suspect shoots behind him, trying to hit the trooper, but misses. The trooper is punching the guy, trying to get him to release the weapon, and this happens for about 30 seconds before the trooper pulls out his gun (Sig P229), put it to the guys head, and fires. Dead on the spot. The whole fight lasted under 2 minutes. The suspect had plenty of time to give up and stop resisting. OSP ruled the shooting as justified.

Here is the second part to the story and a portion of the video.

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/22/20060222-A1-04.html

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Population Control pure and simple.

If you are driving with a pistol, don't be drinking.

If you are drinking, don't have a pistol or drive.

If you are and Idiot don't do any of the three.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Talk about completely justified. There should ot even be any question.

 

[Coronach]

Yes, but his mom doesn't think there was any need for the trooper to shoot her son in the head. This is down from yesterday, when she thought he should not have been shot at all. *sigh*

I'd say that the Trooper, if anything, waited too long to pull the trigger, based upon the not-very-good version of the video I saw. But, it was possible that the troop either didn't have an opportunity to get to his gun, or thought he had him somewhat under control prior to unholstering. Not sure.

Sure was a heck of a fight, and the Trooper did a good job.

Thank God for cruiser cam- otherwise the only thing we would have is the trooper's word and the girlfriend's statement of "But I only heard one shot"

Mike

 

[Ric]

I agree, thank God for cruiser cam

 

[El Tejon]

Cor, I think that the delay was the primordial "wolf on my leg" response. You train to break that, but Ma Nature is a tough old broad.

As for mom and her darling, innocent baby boy, geez, whiz, Mike, you think you would have a thick enough skin by now.

 

[Henry Bowman]

I only saw the video a couple of times, but it looked like the perp was face up and continuing to ba a genuine threat after getting of one (obvious on the tape) round.

 

[f4t9r]

probably better this way then shooting the officer and then freaking out and shooting more people while on the run.

 

[Q-Lock]

wow what an idiot!

Like others have said, thank God for the cruiser cam.

 

[Coronach]

Cor, I think that the delay was the primordial "wolf on my leg" response. You train to break that, but Ma Nature is a tough old broad.

Agreed. Plus, he is new. About one year on. And I'm not second guessing him, I think he did an exemplary job. I could only hope to do so well, if I were in that situation.

As for mom and her darling, innocent baby boy, geez, whiz, Mike, you think you would have a thick enough skin by now.

I know, I know. And in truth, it is to be expected. Mothers are supposed to stand by their children. It must be difficult to take, no matter how much of a thug her son, apparently, was.

Mike

 

[jlbraun]

Egad.

.40 S&W at contact range.

That had to have been messy.

 

[Janitor]

Baker had been indicted on one count of engaging in corrupt activity, 12 counts of trafficking in cocaine, one count of illegal manufacture of drugs, one count of discharging a firearm close to a home and two counts of possessing weapons as a felon.

The LEO turned him into a good cocaine user.

 

[#shooter]

One for the good guys.

As soon as the BG pulled a gun for ill intent he forfeited his worthless life. That car cam sure is a great idea. The girlfriend is at best mistaken at worst outright lied and Mom believes her sonny wouldn’t hurt a fly. Typical! I’m just glad it ended well.

 

[sturmruger]

Wow that video was pretty intense!! That guy had it coming for sure. I feel bad for the poor officer in this situation.

 

[IV Troop]

Just another routine traffic stop, then.......

Every one of dozens of stops a day have the potential to turn out this way or worse.

A good reminder for officers to never get complacent. The fact that he was a new Troop is probably a good thing officer survival wise. Guys that have been there and done that for years and years sometimes forget to be hyper vigilant.

 

[Standing Wolf]

On the proverbial "bright side," he probably won't do that again.

 

[johnnytang24]

At least they left out quote "He was such a nice boy. He would never hurt a soul. He had such a bright future. This tragedy could have been avoided if the police hadn't executed him because he is XXXXX."

Thanks.

 

[jd25q]

This trooper was in a fight for his life and he knew it. A very unique position that I think few people ever experience. By that I mean the realization of "if I lose I'm going to die". I hope he's able to get back out there soon. Good job trooper.

 

[12-34hom]

Scary stuff. The best man won.

12-34hom.

 

[TheEgg]

I'd say that the Trooper, if anything, waited too long to pull the trigger,

+1.

But in this case, the old saying applies -- 'any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.'

Good work by the officer. Glad he is OK.