A Cave Junction man allegedly threatened a store employee with a hatchet, grabbed more than $1,000 worth of merchandise, and then tried to pedal away from deputies on a bicycle before getting boxed in along Highway 199. Josephine County deputies identified the suspect as 37-year-old Wayne Patrick Baker, who was taken into custody after a confrontation that ended with a dented patrol car.
According to the KDRV NewsWatch 12 report, deputies were dispatched at about 6:02 p.m. Sunday to a reported robbery at Shop Smart in Cave Junction. As reported by kcby.com, deputies said Baker threatened the victim multiple times with the hatchet before fleeing the business with more than $1,000 worth of merchandise. A separate account from KAJO 99.7FM said the suspect swung at a caller with a hatchet after he was confronted outside the store, and that the items taken were chips and winter clothing accessories.
Spotted Pedaling Away on Highway 199
Deputies later located Baker riding a bicycle on Highway 199 near Laurel Road, close to the Lil’ Pantry/Sinclair gas station, the kcby.com report notes. Per the same account, he refused to comply with commands and continued fleeing on his bicycle even as deputies tried to pull him over.
Deputies ultimately blocked Baker’s path with a patrol car positioned alongside a highway guardrail. The sheriff’s office said he intentionally struck the front bumper, causing damage to the patrol vehicle, while trying to maneuver around it. Despite the collision, Baker was taken into custody without further incident, the outlet reported.
Conflicting Word on Charges
What happens next in the case isn’t entirely clear, with two local outlets offering different accounts of the legal fallout. The sheriff’s office, per the kcby.com report, said potential charges — first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree theft, menacing, first-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest — have been referred to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office for review. KAJO 99.7FM, however, reported that Baker was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest, and first-degree charges of criminal mischief, robbery and theft.
KAJO also reported that Baker admitted to the theft and that the stolen merchandise was recovered for return to Shop Smart. Hoodline could not independently verify which account of the charging process is accurate, and no additional sheriff’s office, court or district attorney record was available to confirm the case’s final status.
