JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – The case against an area woman who was busted in Brookville with methamphetamine moved forward in court on Thursday.
Court documents indicate the following charges against 43-year-old Margaret Elizabeth Baker, of Punxsutawney, were waived for court on Thursday, January 6, 2022:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor (two counts)
– Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor (two counts)
– Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct, Summary
The charges have been transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.
Baker is currently lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on $80,000.00 monetary bail.
The charges stem from an incident in Brookville in early December.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 3:23 p.m. on December 5, Brookville Borough Police spoke to a confidential source (C.S.) who reported Margaret Baker was possibly intoxicated and walking around outside an establishment near Waterford Pike roadway in Brookville Borough, Jefferson County.
The complaint notes that previously, around 12:58 p.m. police had been asked to respond to an apartment on Waterford Pike for a report of a woman, later identified as Baker, yelling during the night and then again during the day. Police had then spoken to Baker who reportedly stated she had a verbal altercation during the evening and apologized for the noise, saying it would not happen again. Baker reportedly appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, with dilated pupils, but denied using anything and was released back to her apartment after refusing any medical assistance.
According to the complaint, when police spoke to the confidential source, it was reported that Baker “has a lot of younger people over” and they “offend get loud and do odd things.” The source reportedly stated Baker would come into the common area of the apartment building and move things around or behave in an odd or intoxicated manner.
The complaint indicates another confidential source confirmed the information the first source gave and added that she carries a backpack with her every time she leaves the building but never appears to add anything to it, carrying other items in plastic grocery bags. The source also told police that a known individual had told them Baker used methamphetamine.
Around 3:25 p.m. police located Baker and spoke to her.
According to the complaint, during the conversation, Baker reached into her hoodie pocket several times after being asked to stop doing so. She reportedly told police she could not hold still because it was so cold outside. However, police noted she was wearing short sleeves and the temperature outside at the time was approximately 45 degrees.
The complaint states Baker was hyperactive and continually asked police the same questions, still reaching to the same pockets after being told repeatedly to stop doing so. Police determined she was intoxicated on a controlled substance, in a public area, and was posing a danger to herself and others walking near a roadway. She was then taken into custody for public intoxication.
When Baker reached into her pocket again, police asked her to remove the items bulging in the pocket, and Baker removed several tissues and half of a straw with white residue around the end. She was also found to be in possession of a second straw of the same kind, according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, Baker then began to make odd statements claiming she “no longer spoke English,” and that she was a police officer and a homicide detective. She also reportedly demanded police contact Judge Foradora.
Police then searched the backpack found in Baker’s possession.
The backpack was subsequently found to contain a two-quart zip-top baggie with a one-quarter gram of methamphetamine inside it, as well as 31 smaller zip-top baggies of the kind regularly used in the sale and distribution of controlled substances. Police also found a second bag suspected to be cocaine or powdered methamphetamine, a container of prescription Tramadol, a schedule IV controlled substance, with a known woman’s name on it, according to the complaint.
After Baker was transported to the police station, she requested a translator, saying she didn’t speak American English, despite the fact that she had held a lengthy conversation with the officer in English. She reportedly stated she “spoke every language but American English,” and also demanded calls to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Judge Foradora, and other officials. She also allegedly continued to state she was a homicide officer, the complaint states.
Baker was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak at 1:44 p.m. on December 5.
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