BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested Saturday when Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to a home in the 800 block of Rocky Creek West after receiving multiple reports of a domestic battery.
When police arrived they found 40-year-old Justin Baker sitting in a chair on the front porch and calling 911.
Baker was detained while police investigated the allegations.
Baker told police he was intoxicated but denied putting his hands on the female involved.
Police then entered the home and spoke to the female, a juvenile female, and another adult male.
The woman reported that Baker had been drinking moonshine and there was a verbal altercation over money used to purchase a vehicle for their adult son without discussing it with her.
After the verbal altercation, the woman stated that she tried to distance herself from Baker but he followed her. She claims Baker chest bumped her six to eight times and at one point while she was in the bathroom he used his forearm and pinned her against the wall while he was screaming at her.
She told police at one point during the altercation, Baker obtained a knife and told her to take it from him and stab him with it. She told the officers she took the knife away from Baker and gave it to her daughter. Baker proceeded outside, pulled down the Christmas lights that were affixed to the roof/gutters, and shoved them in the woman’s face, poking her in the eye with one of the bulbs. The woman went back inside and dialed 911. The officers said the woman had no visible injuries
The woman requested not to file charges and officers left the scene but not before telling Baker to keep his distance from the woman and if they returned he would be arrested.
Shortly after leaving the scene, officers received another call to return to the home.
When police arrived, they found the woman and her children outside of the home. They reported Baker had grabbed a chair from the living room and thrown it. He also threw something at the Christmas tree. The woman wanted to file charges. The woman signed a battery affidavit. Baker was detained on a charge of domestic battery.
