32-year-old Paul Baker was charged with evading arrest, improper stopping at a stop sign, improper display of plates, reckless driving, driving without insurance, and improper use of turn signal after he was observed failing to stop at a stop sign and then led the officer in circles on Dover Road to avoid a traffic stop.
On July 19th, an officer witnessed a man on a black sports bike, driven by Paul Baker Jr, on Dover Road near mile exit 374 traveling southbound toward the city. The initial purpose of the traffic stop was due to Baker not stopping for a stop sign while turning from Old Dover Road. After the officer activated his lights and siren Baker turned around, passed the concrete median, and began heading back north. The officer drove across the median to pursue the biker, but Baker once again evaded the officer and returned to the southbound lane. As the officer turned around Baker evaded him again and began traveling in the southbound lane. As the officer was turning his vehicle around once again, Baker stayed in the southbound. When ordered to pull over, he threw his hands in the air. The officer made another attempt to turn his vehicle around in order to pull Baker over, but Baker cut in front of the patrol car and swerved back into the northbound lane. Finally, Baker reversed his direction around and sped onto the 374 ramp.
During the officer’s investigation, they spoke with a resident in the area of 1050 Ross Lane who verified that their neighbor was riding a bike that morning, similar to the one that the officer described. The officer showed the witness a photo and they were able to make a positive identification of the bike. They also verified that it belonged to his neighbor, Paul Baker.
The officer located Baker’s information in the DMV’s system and verified his identity by his driver’s license photo. Baker contacted the sheriff’s office requesting to speak with the officer about the incident. Paul Baker admitted that he did not stop because he did not have a motorcycle endorsement, the bike was not registered and because he had no insurance. Baker had no regard for safety and did not use a turn signal during any of the maneuvers. The officer also noted that the address listed on his license was no longer a valid address.
Paul Baker was arrested and charged with evading arrest, improper stopping at a stop sign, improper display of plates, reckless driving, driving without insurance, and improper use of turn signal. He is currently jailed in lieu of a $12,000 bond.
