July 14, 2017
Chester /Chester County District Attorney's Office/ YouTube
The Chester County District Attorney's Office says this video shows Barry Baker, whose mugshot is seen at bottom left, punching a man with cerebral palsy in the face after mocking him outside a West Chester convenience store.
Barry Baker, who is accused of mocking and sucker punching a man with cerebral palsy, is now being charged with flight to avoid apprehension after leading officials on a "two-week manhunt," the Chester County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
Baker, 29, was initially arrested for an assault that was captured on surveillance outside a 7-Eleven in West Chester on May 10 that was widely shared online. He promptly posted bail but soon disappeared after two additional warrants for parole and probation violations were issued for his arrest.
He was later tracked down by the U.S. Marshals and Chester County Sheriffs on June 5.
"This is how Chester County law enforcement deals with bullies who pick on disabled people," District Attorney Thomas Hogan said in a news release.
Authorities say Baker was aware of the warrants related to a theft from a motor vehicle case and failing to appear for a domestic relations hearing and did not surrender "despite promises to turn himself in."
To avoid facing the music, Baker allegedly roped in his fiancee, too, who has been arrested for reportedly helping Baker flee, according to the DA's office.
Baker is accused of having his fiancee, identified as Denise Ranae Schmidt, of Delaware, by the Daily Local News, book a hotel room in Exton under a friend's name using cash and buy a prepaid cellphone. U.S. Marshals found Baker hiding in the bathroom of the hotel room on June 5 with his iPhone in "airplane" mode in hopes of covering up his tracks.
Investigators said a further search of Baker's phone showed that he Googled phrases like "how do cops ping a cell phone" and "how to change my personal name" as well as bus and train schedules to places across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Baker will be arraigned on the latest complaint "in the near future," according to the district attorney's office.
