KOSCIIUSKO CO. – On Saturday, August 9, 2025, troopers with the Indiana State Police Bremen Post responded to assist the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office in locating a suspect who had allegedly fled from a chaotic scene in the 9000 block of North State Road 13.
At this scene, Michael Baker, 39 of Cromwell, IN, is alleged to have threatened the victim with an axe and then stole a black Ford pickup truck and used this Ford to ram into another vehicle before fleeing.
When troopers arrived, they observed tracks in the grass leading to a wooded area north of the scene. While a Kosciusko County deputy spoke to the victim, Trooper Matt Drudge, Trooper Aaron Price, Trooper John Wilson, and a deputy followed the tracks into the woods and located the stolen Ford abandoned at approximately 11:00 p.m. Trooper John Wilson used his K9 partner, Daisy, to begin a track to locate Baker. After approximately half an hour into the track, officers on the track heard yells for help coming from deeper in the woods.
Officers attempted to yell for Baker to determine where he was, but received no response. They then began a grid search and at approximately 12:19 a.m. located Baker approximately 20 feet up in a tree. Baker had taken his T-shirt and tied it in a loop around his neck and the tree to help him stay in the tree. Officers talked Baker into coming out of the tree, and he fell while attempting to climb down. Baker became wedged in some branches approximately 10 feet from the ground. Baker eventually fell to the ground and was taken into custody.
Medics were called to the scene to evaluate Baker, who was then transported to the Kosciusko County Jail for charges related to the investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
