Troopers find fleeing suspect hiding 20 feet up in tree in Northern Indiana

Written from press release

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. — A man accused of threatening someone with an axe, stealing a truck, and ramming another vehicle was found hiding 20 feet up a tree after a late-night search in rural Kosciusko County, according to the Indiana State Police.

The incident began Saturday, Aug. 9, when troopers from the Bremen Post responded to assist the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office in locating a suspect who fled from a chaotic scene in the 9000 block of North State Road 13. Police say Michael Baker, 39, of Cromwell, allegedly threatened a victim with an axe, stole a black Ford pickup, and used it to ram another vehicle before driving away.

Troopers followed tire tracks from the scene into a wooded area, where they found the abandoned truck around 11 p.m. Trooper John Wilson and his K9 partner, Daisy, began tracking the suspect. About 30 minutes into the search, officers heard calls for help coming from deeper in the woods.

A grid search led police to Baker, who was perched about 20 feet up in a tree with his T-shirt looped around his neck and the trunk to brace himself. Officers talked him into climbing down, but he fell partway and became stuck in branches roughly 10 feet off the ground. He eventually fell to the ground, where officers took him into custody.

Baker was evaluated by medics before being booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on charges connected to the sheriff’s office investigation.

Police noted that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

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