Monday, November 11, 2013

Bates County Sheriff's Office Press Release: Standoff North Of Adrian Friday



















On Monday November 5th, 2013 the Bates County Sheriffs Detectives were dispatched to St. Lukes East in Lees Summit in reference to an assault that had taken place in rural Adrian. Detectives contacted a 62 year old female that had serious injuries. The victim stated that she moved from the State of Washington to rural Missouri with another female. She stated that she woke up and the female roommate was attacking her. The roommate then loaded the victims personal items and drove her to Lees Summit with a destination of the Train Station. Approximately a block before the train station the victim was forced out of the car and her belongings tossed onto the ground.

Bystanders had observed the incident and called 911 for the female victim. The victim identified the assaulter as Rhonda L Baker, W/F, 7/16/1968. Throughout the week the Detectives made multiple attempts to contact Baker. Baker would not respond to the Detectives at the residence. On November 8, at approximately 1pm a deputy was at the rural Adrian residence of Baker in an attempt to serve her exparte papers. Baker again would not respond to the deputy at the house.

At approximately 2pm Bates County’s Dispatch Center received a call from a family member of Ms. Baker’s live in Boyfriend who state Ms. Baker was suicidal. Dispatch also made contact directly with the boyfriend and he advised she was suicidal and had intentions of committing suicide by having Police Officers shoot her.

Deputies arrived on scene and attempted to get the two subjects out of the house. The Bates County Crisis Negotiation Team and the Sheriffs Emergency Response Team were activated. Communication was established with Ms. Baker who denied that she was suicidal but refused to come out of the house. Negotiators were able to speak with the boyfriend and he advised them on several occasions that Ms. Baker would not let him leave the house. Several times during the negotiations Ms. Baker would tell them togo get a warrant and lets play. Ms. Baker for a couple of hours Ms. Baker would not allow her boyfriend to talk on the phone. Grave concern began to rise for the safety of the boyfriend that was considered to be a hostage. Especially since the Sheriffs Office also had information of there being weapons in the house from several sources.

After approximately 5 hours, the Negotiation Team, with help from the boyfriend inside the house, successfully talked Ms. Baker to come out of the house. Ms. Baker and the boyfriend were taken into custody without incident. After the surrender the Sheriffs Emergency Response Team served a search warrant on the residence. A handgun, a shotgun and long rifle were located in the house along with

The Sheriff’s Office is familiar with Rhonda Baker and has had dealing with her on prior occasions. On Valentine’s Day 2011 the Bates County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the same residence because Ms. Baker had pointed a weapon at an ex-boyfriend and then fled into her residence when Deputies arrived. On that day Ms. Baker held up in her house for over 12 hours. Tear gas was deployed into multiple windows of the house where she finally came out and was taken into custody. Ms. Baker was charged with unlawful use of a weapon on that case and is set to go to trial sometime in 2014.

On the new incident Ms. Baker has been charged with 2nd Assault and her bond was set at $20,000 Cash or Surety. More Charges are expected to follow in regards to the standoff, once the Prosecutor has had a chance to review the reports.

Bates County Sheriffs Office appreciates the assistance by the Bates County EMS, Adrian Fire Department, and the local Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers. During the incident a request for an additional tactical team was requested from two other agencies. Cass County Sheriffs Office was in the process of assembling their team but was canceled prior to arrival when the negotiation team talked her out of the residence.




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