published: Thursday, February 21, 2013

Deputy's car damaged in dispute

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Megan Marie Baker, 27, was arrested Saturday on charges of criminal mischief and burglary with assault or battery after an altercation with her boyfriend, Samuel Harrison, the father of their 5-month-old baby. She was released Sunday on a $2,500 bond.

At about 10:30 a.m. Monday, Harrison appeared at the Highlands County Sheriff's Office complaining that Baker was harassing him with text messages. She had allegedly sent 13 messages since her Saturday arrest. The report states all the messages were obscene, insulting and threatening; it also states no return messages from Harrison were found.

The investigating officer reported contacting Baker by phone and telling her to stop texting Harrison. The officer added Baker was rude and argumentative during the conversation. She also repeatedly asked if Harrison was at the Sheriff's Office. A question, the officer states, he never answered.

About a half hour later, Baker allegedly confronted Harrison in the courthouse parking lot very angry and apparently ready to brawl.

She did this despite the fact Harrison was sitting in his 2006 Kia Sedona right next to a parked Highlands County deputy sheriff.

Feeling his patrol car rock back and forth, the deputy got out to investigate. He found Baker trying to get at Harrison through the KIA's driver door.

The two cars, however, were parked close together and Baker repeatedly slammed the KIA's driver's door into the patrol car trying to get in. Ultimately, she caused $200 in damage to the deputy's car.

The police report states that Baker, unable to get through the door, reached through a partially opened window, slapping and scratching Harrison in the face. She was taken into custody and remains in the county jail on a $17,000 bond. The largest portion, $10,000, is related to the charge of stalking cyber talk death and injury.