Loser Who Sucker-Punched Disabled Man Caught by U.S. Marshals

Former Coatesville resident Barry Baker went on the run after he was charged with assaulting a man with cerebral palsy in May.

Photo courtesy of the Chester County District Attorney’s office

Posting bail was the first thing that the coward known as Barry Baker did following his arrest last month on charges that he sucker-punched a 22-year-old man with cerebral palsy outside of a 7-Eleven in West Chester.

The second move that the former Coatesville man made was to go underground, where he remained as a fugitive from justice until U.S. Marshals picked him up early Monday morning in connection with several outstanding arrest warrants.

Authorities say Baker, who now resides in Delaware, promised to turn himself in when two warrants were issued for his arrest after he first made bail in Chester County in late May. But when the 29-year-old never showed, U.S. Marshals and the Chester County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit went to work on tracking him down.

Both hard intelligence and tips via social media directed law enforcement to the Clarion Hotel in Exton, where Baker was taken into custody without incident. He was wanted for violating his probation and for failing to appear at an unrelated domestic relations hearing.

“We’re pleased that Mr. Baker is in custody,” Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh said in a release. “It was a great effort by multiple agencies.”

Baker was charged with simple assault and other offenses by the West Chester Borough Police Department following the disturbing May 10 incident outside of the 7-Eleven, which was captured on surveillance video.

“This was a relentless manhunt by the United States Marshals Service, the Chester County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, and all of Chester County law enforcement,” Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said in a release. “Every cop on the street told me that they were looking for this defendant. In addition, the public did an outstanding job through social media of getting the word out that the defendant was wanted. Nobody was going to quick until the defendant was in prison, where he belongs.”

Baker has been transferred to Chester County Prison, where he awaits his preliminary hearing. His attorney declined to comment on the arrest.

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