BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Telegraph Staff Writer
STARKE— A man suspected of dealing in stolen property led police on a chase from Market Road to a riverbed near Union Correctional Institution.
Edwin Elisha Baker, 35, was arrested for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended or revoked license, resisting an officer, and fraud-impersonation.
According to an arrest report, Starke police Sergeant Frank W. Krol met the buyer of a side-by-side at the eastern end of Market Road. The victim told the officer that the off-road vehicle turned out to be stolen, and Baker County deputies confiscated it.
The victim explained that he had traded his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado for the four-wheeler, and after deputies seized the side-by-side, he traced the truck to a Market Road address.
Krol wrote that while talking to the victim and calling the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the Silverado exited a Market Road driveway and headed toward him.
“I walked into the road and attempted to flag the vehicle down,” Krol wrote, “however, the driver rapidly accelerated and nearly struck me, causing me to back up and move to prevent from being hit.”
The sergeant added that the Silverado ran into a ditch, then backed out and took off.
“I gave chase to the vehicle with my emergency lights and sirens audible and active,” he reported.
The truck crossed Old Lawtey Road and U.S. 301, continuing west on Market Road.
Krol wrote that the truck turned north onto State Road 16, then west onto County Road 233, traveling 70 to 85 mph.
After leading Krol through a field, back onto Northwest CR 233, north on Northwest 71st Avenue, and west on Northwest County Road 225, the truck turned right onto Northwest 219th Street and into a wooded area between Florida State Prison and Union Correctional Institution.
Krol said his vehicle could not pursue the Chevrolet into the woods. However, a nearby resident offered the sergeant, Officer David Clancy, and K-9 Ric the use of a side-by-side, and the two officers continued the pursuit.
“After several miles of rough terrain,” Krol wrote, “Ofc. Clancy and I located the vehicle abandoned at the creek bottom, northwest of Florida State Prison.”
He added that the Silverado had gone through a closed gate to enter prison property and that it appeared two people had been in the truck due to the driver’s side and passenger side doors being left open.
Two sets of footprints leading from the truck confirmed the existence of a passenger.
Krol reported that a K-9 unit from Union Correctional Institution eventually tracked down the pair in a riverbed behind UCI.
“The male initially advised his name was Ethan,” wrote Krol, “however, I was familiar with the male subject from prior law enforcement encounters and knew his name was Edwin Baker.”
The sergeant added that UCI K-9 Sergeant Nick Krahl discovered two loaded handgun magazines in Baker’s left front pocket, along with two knives.
Baker’s passenger, 28-year-old Sandra Marie Harvey, was arrested for resisting an officer.
