WBIW.com News - local

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Linton Couple Who Died In Shootout With Police Had Criminal History

Last updated on Monday, March 5, 2012

(ANDERSON COUNTY, TN.) - Linton’s 32-year-old Michael J. Baker and 25-year-old Shanna L. Richardson had a criminal history. (GC DAILY WORLD)

The two were killed in a shootout with Tennessee police.

Police say that the two were boyfriend-girlfriend and allegedly truck stolen in Linton on Tuesday afternoon from the Linton Vet Clinic on State Road 54 and then drove to a Lake City, Tenn.

The couple went to a Pilot service station where they drove off without paying for $146 in diesel fuel. A chase followed after one of the occupants of the truck fired a shotgun at a pursing police vehicle. They eventually wrecked the truck and got into a gun fight with police.

Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene. Baker, who was driving the truck, died several hours later at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Both have a criminal history.

Richardson had a pending case in Greene Superior Court and there was an active warrant for her arrest.

On Feb. 23, a petition to revoke her suspended sentence for a receiving stolen property - class D felony - charge that she was convicted for on Oct. 1, 2008, was filed.
She was sentenced Jan. 14, 2011 after pleading guilty as part of a negotiated plea agreement to 1 1/2 years with the Indiana Department of Correction with all but 120 days suspended. She was placed on probation for 1 1/2 years.

According to court records, the request to revoke her suspended sentence was filed because she failed a drug screen test on Oct. 26, 2011 with morphine and THC (marijuana) detected in a routine urine screen. In addition, she missed an appointment for drug and alcohol counseling Feb. 8, as well as an appointment with her probation officer on Feb. 21.

A warrant for her arrest was issued Feb. 23.

Baker was also initially charged with receiving stolen property in the same case, but charges were dropped against him on July 14, 2011 on a motion by the prosecution.
The pair was implicated in two area church burglaries - Linton First Christian Church and Blessed Hope Baptist Church near Jasonville - on Oct. 22, 2008.

Taken from the Linton First Christian Church break-in were three cameras and accessories and a VCR. From Blessed Hope Baptist the burglars stole a .45 caliber handgun that was in a locked box that looked like a book. Richardson and Baker were alleged to have helped sell some of the stolen items.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page