close

Police standoff suspect faces trial

By Josh Krysak 2 min read

A Smithfield man who kept police at bay and was discovered in possession of a small arsenal July 26 will face trial in Fayette County after all charges against him were held for court on Thursday. Raymond Conway Baker III, 44, of 13 Rose Circle in Strickland Estates was charged July 27 with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and harassment before Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner following the armed standoff.

Police said Baker was taken into custody after being discharged from Highlands Hospital in Connellsville July 28 and placed in the Fayette County Prison on $150,000 bond.

Baker holed up in his mobile home the evening of July 26 as dozens of state police troopers and emergency officials surrounded his home. He surrendered around 9 p.m., police said.

After police searched Baker’s Georges Township home and storage unit, investigators uncovered 55 guns and four homemade bombs.

State police trooper George Mrosko said that the state police Hazardous Devices and Explosives Section transported the suspected bombs to Hershey, where officials will detonate them and determine their capability.

Investigators discovered 21 guns, including a fully automatic M-16 machine gun, in Baker’s home, Mrosko said.

Mrosko said an additional 34 weapons and the bombs were found in the storage shed.

Mrosko said Thursday that further charges against Baker could result as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is continuing to investigate the bombs discovered at the storage shed.

The standoff began in the Strickland Estates housing complex off Walnut Hill Road after Baker engaged in an argument with his wife, Shelley Baker, around 4:50 p.m., according to police.

Mrosko said in the affidavit of probable cause that during the argument Baker struck his wife in the face and then retrieved a shotgun from his bedroom and pointed the weapon at Shelley Baker’s head and threatened he would shoot and kill her.

At that point, Shelley Baker and her two children fled the residence and contacted police.

Baker then barricaded himself in the mobile home, refusing to surrender to police for several hours, Mrosko said.

Following the preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Randy Abraham, Baker was remanded to the Fayette County Prison to await trial.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today