OOLITIC – A 45-year-old Oolitic man, Traviss Charles Baker, was arrested and is facing multiple felony charges following an incident on July 30, 2025, involving two juveniles.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies, Kenton Carter, Captain A. Pope and Sgt. Robin Compton Jr. responded to a battery call at approximately 7:39 p.m. at an apartment complex located in the 600 block of West 9th Street in Oolitic.
Baker was taken into custody by Captain Pope while the investigation began.
According to a probable cause affidavit, two juveniles, ages 12 and 10, were located in a nearby apartment with two adults. The children told police that Baker confronted them, accusing them of having a vape pen. The juveniles denied the accusation and showed Baker a red deodorant cap, which he said Baker mistook for the device.
Both juveniles described a physical altercation. The 12-year-old stated that Baker put him in a chokehold and bloodied his nose. The affidavit notes that Officer Carter observed a “fresh red irritation and bruise” on the child’s left chest. The 10-year-old told police that Baker held him down near a truck, applying pressure to the back of his head and neck, an action that caused him to lose his breath. Bruising was observed on the child’s right arm.
A male witness, who had taken the children to his apartment, told police he saw Baker pointing a large butcher knife at the two children, telling police he was worried the younger boy would get “pocked with the knife.” The juveniles also reported that Baker was verbally abusive during the incident. Police later located a butcher knife on the porch of Baker’s apartment.
After being read his Miranda rights, Baker spoke with Officer Carter. He admitted to being on top of the younger boy by a truck, stating that the boy went to the ground on his own to cover the object, which Baker continued to believe was a vape pen. Baker also acknowledged chasing the older child and said he may have put his arm around him in what “could have looked like a headlock from a distance.”
When questioned about the knife, Baker was quoted in the affidavit as saying he was experiencing “nerves and not thinking” and that “if he did [point the knife], I’m sorry.”
Police reviewed video footage from the apartment office, and it was confirmed that Baker had chased the older child. No footage of the alleged headlock was available.
Baker is facing charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon, strangulation, and two counts of battery on a person less than 14 years old, all Level 6 felonies.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
