Officer Cleared in Shooting of 83-Year-Old in James City County

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. James City County police shooting update
2. Charges dropped for police officer in James City County incident

A James City County police officer faced no charges and has returned to regular duty after an investigation into an officer-involved shooting earlier this year. The incident on Jan. 6 involved the officer firing near a man reportedly holding a shotgun, but no injuries were reported. The officer was placed on a non-enforcement assignment during the state police investigation, which ultimately cleared the officer of any criminal wrongdoing. The incident occurred in the Lake Powell Pointe subdivision, where 83-year-old Paul Baker was charged with multiple offenses after threatening a caller with a shotgun. Baker was not injured and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 8.

Details of the Incident in James City County

In a recent news release from the James City County police department, it was revealed that an officer involved in a shooting incident earlier this year has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. The incident took place on January 6 in the Lake Powell Pointe subdivision.

Investigation Results and Officer’s Return to Duty

After an investigation by the state police, the Williamsburg-James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney determined that the officer, who has been referred to as “Officer One”, will not face any charges. Following this decision, the officer has returned to normal duty.

Incident Details and Response

On the day of the incident, police responded to a call reporting an armed man in the Lake Powell Pointe subdivision. The man, identified as 83-year-old Paul Baker, was reportedly threatening someone with a shotgun. When officers arrived at the scene, Baker was outside with the caller.

According to police reports from January, Officer One instructed Baker to drop the shotgun. However, when Baker started moving towards the officers with the weapon drawn, Officer One discharged their weapon. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

Charges Filed Against Paul Baker

Following the incident, Paul Baker was charged with two counts of assault and battery of a family member, assault and battery against a law enforcement officer, brandishing a firearm, and reckless handling of a firearm. He was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on August 8.

Conclusion

With the officer being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and returning to normal duty, the incident in James City County serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks that law enforcement officers face in their line of duty. The swift response of the officers involved helped ensure the safety of all parties involved.

Sam Schaffer, samuel.schaffer@virginiamedia.com