Ashley Baker : SC Officer on Leave After Pursuit Injures 4 Children: Investigation Underway

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. South Carolina police officer suspension
2. Pursuit injury children incident

A South Carolina police officer has been placed on administrative leave after a pursuit resulted in injuries to four children. The incident occurred on Feb. 13 when officers responded to reports of a shoplifting spree at a Forest Acres shopping center. The suspect, identified as Ashley Baker, attempted to evade police and caused a collision on Trenholm Road. The pursuit ended with the suspect’s vehicle overturning, injuring the suspect and the four children. Baker faces multiple charges, including child endangerment and shoplifting. The Forest Acres Police Department is conducting an internal review of the pursuit, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident.

Forest Acres, South Carolina: Police Officer Placed on Leave After Pursuit Injures 4 Children

The Forest Acres Police Department in South Carolina made a troubling announcement on Friday, revealing that an officer has been placed on administrative leave following a pursuit crash that resulted in injuries to four children.

On February 13th, two officers from the FAPD responded to multiple calls from loss prevention officers reporting a shoplifting incident at a Forest Acres shopping center. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Ashley Baker, was seen stealing merchandise from several stores before attempting to flee in a black Honda Pilot SUV.

Video footage captured the intense moment when officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, only for Baker to evade them by nearly colliding with a police vehicle as she sped off. Sgt. David Pickett of the FAPD then engaged in a pursuit with Baker, which led to a collision on the 4100 block of Trenholm Road after a three-minute chase. The pursuit ended with Baker’s vehicle overturning down an embankment, eventually coming to a halt in a nearby yard.

Following the crash, Baker and the four children, aged 13, 12, 6, and 2, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Baker faced multiple charges, including failure to stop for law enforcement, child endangerment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, shoplifting, and possession of marijuana. Despite the charges, Baker was released on bond.

Internal Review and Investigation

Immediately after the incident, the FAPD contacted the South Carolina Highway Patrol to conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash, as per department policy whenever a patrol vehicle is involved in an accident. Additionally, the FAPD initiated an internal review of the pursuit to assess policy violations.

The department’s pursuit policy explicitly prohibits engaging in pursuits for non-violent property crimes and prohibits the use of a patrol vehicle to attempt to slow down a fleeing vehicle. The Highway Patrol’s accident investigation is still ongoing, with the Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation team tasked with determining the exact cause of the crash.

FAPD Chief Don Robinson stated, “We respect the investigative process and must allow the Highway Patrol adequate time to complete their crash investigation. We want the public to rest assured that appropriate actions will be taken once we fully understand the cause of this crash.”

As the investigation continues, Sgt. David Pickett remains on administrative leave, serving on modified assignment duties until the completion of the investigation.

For further updates on this developing story, stay tuned to WYFF News Four for the latest information.