Police arrested a man accused of mocking and attacking a person with cerebral palsy outside a 7-11 in West Chester. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
The father and fiancée of a suspect who police say was caught on surveillance video punching a man with cerebral palsy were both arrested Tuesday on separate charges.
Barry Baker Sr. was one of 46 people arrested as a result of a countywide drug bust operation in Chester County dubbed “Operation Wildfire.” During the eight-week operation, multiple law enforcement agencies arrested alleged heroin, OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, morphine, MDMA, diazepam, Xanax, crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine dealers in every region of Chester County. Officials say Baker Sr. sold morphine.
Baker Sr.’s son, Barry Baker Jr., was arrested earlier this month after he allegedly mocked and sucker punched a person with cerebral palsy outside a West Chester 7-Eleven store in May. Police say Baker Jr., 29, who previously lived in Coatesville but moved to Georgetown, Delaware, was caught on surveillance video imitating the way the victim walked before attacking him.
He was initially charged with simple assault and other related offenses but disappeared after he was freed on $25,000 bail. He was later found on June 5 at a hotel in Uwchlan Township and taken into custody.
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan commented on the connection between the two suspects while announcing the Operation Wildfire arrests Tuesday.
“So while his son was beating up a man with a disability, Barry Baker Sr. was selling us morphine,” Hogan said. “It’s a heck of a family.”
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Baker Jr.’s fiancée Denise Schmidt was also arrested Tuesday. Police say she hindered Baker Jr’s apprehension when he first went missing after being released on bail and paid for his hotel as well as a pre-paid phone.
