GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The suspect accused of carrying the mother of his child into oncoming traffic appeared in court Monday.
Michael Baker is charged with attempted murder after police say he picked up his ex and carried her into traffic on Washington Street in Gloucester.
Police say both individuals were hit by a landscaping company truck and taken to local hospitals.
Michael Baker, the man accused of attempted murder in Gloucester incident where police say he picked up woman and ran in front of oncoming truck will appear in Gloucester District Court. He is being transported from a Boston hospital.
— Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) April 22, 2019
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Court paperwork says the victim suffered minor injuries while Baker was med-flighted to a Boston hospital.
Police say the incident happened while their 7-year-old daughter was in the backseat of a nearby car.
According to court documents, Baker and the child's mother had been fighting about a custody issue. On Friday, while they were outside Bakers mother's house, police say Baker picked up his ex and walked right into traffic. The landscaping truck slammed on the brakes and avoided causing deadly injuries.
Police say Baker got into argument on Friday with the victim involving a custody issue with their child. Police say the victim says Baker looked “demonic” during argument when he picked victim up and ran in front of truck. She suffered scrapes and abrasions. https://t.co/Lht5e4N3OT
— Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) April 22, 2019
Police say Baker was heard uttering at the hospital, "I think I was rohypied, I want to know what is in my system... This is out of character for me, I am a family man and professor... I don't know what happened, we played in traffic, it was a bipolar episode. This is the craziest thing I have done in my 40 years of existence."
Baker's attorneys did not elaborate but said Baker did work in that field.
Baker was still in the hospital until right before he was brought into court Monday. He is charged with attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. Baker will be back in court Monday after he undergoes a mental health evaluation. On Monday, the court will decide if a dangerousness hearing will be needed.
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