JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office is continuing its investigation into the death of a Jamestown man while in police custody.
According to a media release from District Attorney David Foley, 30 year-old Charles Baker, Jr. was arrested by the Jamestown Police Department last Saturday afternoon, February 16 during a traffic stop for alleged possession of drugs.
While being processed in the city jail, police say an altercation occurred resulting in Baker being tasered by police. Police report that about two hours after being tasered, he began having a seizure and was taken to WCA Hospital. When initially arriving at the hospital, Baker was responsive, but subsequently passed away.
Foley says that an autopsy was performed Monday morning at the Erie County Medical Center and his office is awaiting the results to determine the specific cause of death. It could take as long as six weeks for the results of the autopsy to be made public.
The D-A adds that he has instructed his investigator to collect information from the JPD, including any video footage of the initial encounter in the Department.
According to the Jamestown Police Department, Baker was placed in police custody after a traffic stop. Officer say Baker was a passenger in a car driven by 40 year old Cindy Frank of Jamestown, who was pulled over at about 12:14 p.m. Saturday.
The say Baker was detained for an unspecified violation, and a subsequent investigation found that he allegedly attempted to hid several baggies of cocaine in the back seat of the patrol car. Baker was then charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence (Felony) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd (Felony) and was then transported to the city jail, where an additional bag of drugs allegedly fell off his person an onto the ground. When an officer attempted to pick up the bag, Baker allegedly stepped on the drugs and the officer’s hand.
When Baker was uncuffed for processing, more drugs allegedly fell from his person and it was then that he reportedly became physically combative in the booking room and had to be subdued with the use of a taser.
Baker was then brought under control and put in a restraining chair. After being booked, he was put into a holding cell where, within minutes, he began to suffer an apparent seizure. He was sent to WCA hospital where he died. The Jamestown Police Department states that a taser was only used once on Baker while he was in police custody.
Police also say that the investigation is ongoing and they are cooperating with the County DA’s Office.
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