MORNING NEWS: Autopsy Results on Man Who Died While in JPD Custody Expected in April

A photo of Charles Baker, Jr. – who died while in the custody of the Jamestown Police Department on Saturday, Feb. 16. (Photo from Facebook.com)

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office says it may not be until the middle of April before the autopsy results come in for the Jamestown man who died while in police custody last weekend.

District Attorney David Foley’s office said that an autopsy for 30 year-old Charles Baker Jr. was conducted at the Erie County Medical Center. However, it could take up to eight weeks for the autopsy to be analyzed and the results are made public.

Baker, who was on parole at the time of the incident, was the passenger in a car that was pulled over by the Jamestown Police Department for a traffic violation. Upon investigation, it was found that he was allegedly in possession of drugs and was subsequently placed under arrest and brought to the police station for processing.

According to the official report from the Jamestown Police Department, officers say Baker become combative and a TASER was used once, to bring him under control. After being Tased, he was placed into a restraining chair so booking could be completed. Within two hours of being brought in for booking, he began experiencing seizures and he was sent to WCA Hospital for treatment. Not soon after arriving at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Baker was reported to have been in possession of cocaine at the time of his arrest. The autopsy will determine whether or not the drug was in his system and if it played a role in his death.

The DA’s office is also investigating the entire incident, including reviewing any video surveillance from the police department on that day. The Jamestown Police Department is not releasing the name or names of any of the officers involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, The funeral for Baker will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral service and burial will be in Lake View Cemetery.