UPDATE: New details released in Forest Acres chase turned crash
Shoplifting suspect accused of fleeing police before crashing with children inside
Image: Forest Acres Police Department
Forest Acres, SC (WOLO)– The Forest Acres Police Department has release new details concerning a chase involving a suspected shoplifter police say led them on a chase through the city before crashing her SUV with her four young children inside.
According to an incident report obtained by ABC Columbia News, the suspect now identified as 37 year old Ashley Nicole Baker is accused of taking police on that chase starting in the Trenholm Plaza parking lot which housed the Sephora, and Bath and Body Works stores authorities say she is now charged with stealing from.
Officials say they were able to locate Baker driving a 2015 black Honda Pilot based on eyewitness reports, but when they attempted to stop her police say she not only refused to stop for lights and activated sirens, but continued leading police on a citywide chase through several side streets. According to FAPD’s incident report, at times Baker was clocked going as fast as 72 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. Officials say the pursuing officer drove in front of the SUV to slow her down authorities say she made a u-turn and started driving in the opposite direction.
A short distance later officials say the officer drove along the passenger side of Baker’s SUV, when they say she tried to drive into the officer’s lane where officials say she side swiped his cruiser. When the officer slowed to a near stop, the incident report says Baker was seen leaving the road and driving up onto the sidewalk before she lost control of her car, hit a light pole, flipped over a brick barrier and landed on the roof of the car in a residents front yard.
Police say she and all four of her children, ages 13 and younger, managed to climb out of the car with what appeared to be non life threatening injuries. Baker who was detained, was taken to the hospital along with her children to be evaluated.
Forest Acres Police Chief Don Robinson released a statement surrounding the incident saying,
“It is miraculous these four children walked away from this accident,”…“Incidents like these also endanger our officer’s lives. Rest assured we will be looking at potential charges that uphold the fullest extent of the law.”.
After checking Baker’s car, The Forest Acres Police Department says they located merchandise allegedly stolen from both stores totaling more than $800 dollars, along with a small mason jar with 5 grams of marijuana inside. Baker has been charged with four counts of child neglect, two counts of shoplifting, and failure to stop for blue lights.
Police say Baker is no longer in their custody due to a bond hearing held in her hospital room on Wednesday, Feb.14. Her PR bond is set at $14,092.50.
Baker’s charges are:
- Failure to Stop for Blue Lights (felony)
- 4 Counts of Child Endangerment (felony)
- 2 Counts Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (felony)
- 2 Counts Shoplifting Under $2,000 (misdemeanor)
- Simple Possession of Marijuana (misdemeanor)
