Abducted infant dies after suspect crashes into a Tiffin home during a police chase

A 23-year-old man accused of abducting and killing an infant girl after he crashed into a Tiffin home Tuesday is still in critical condition in the hospital, police said Wednesday.Show more

The seven-month-old infant, which was abducted from North Baltimore, died after Johnathon Baker, 23, suddenly accelerated his vehicle and "erratically drove off the roadway through the front yard of one residence and crashing into another residence, knocking it off its foundation," Tiffin police said Tuesday.

Tiffin police are investigating the infant's death as a homicide.

The infant, whose name has not been released, and Baker had to be extricated from the vehicle by first responders. Tiffin police also said a loaded weapon and two spent cartridges were found in the vehicle.

Baker was dating the infant's mother and told her that she had killed the baby, Tiffin police said. The incident began as a dispute between Baker and the mother, and Baker eventually took the baby and left in his vehicle.

At about 3:43 p.m. Tuesday, the Wood County Sheriff's Office contacted Seneca County sheriffs to advise them that Baker, who was armed, was en route to Tiffin with the abducted baby and "stated he was feeling homicidal and suicidal," the Seneca County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said a Tiffin police officer located and began following Baker's vehicle while providing his route to responding officers.

During the pursuit, Baker turned south onto South Sandusky Street and was heading out of town between Cottage Avenue and Ella Street when a sheriff's deputy and Tiffin police officer pulled up behind him to conduct a traffic stop. He then accelerated at a high speed, eventually ramming his vehicle into the side of a rental home.

Neighbors said the last occupants of the rental home, on South Sandusky Street, had moved out last week, so no one was at the home at the time of the crash.

Law enforcement then surrounded the vehicle, broke out the window and retrieved the infant "that was bleeding from the head and had labored breathing."

Tiffin resident Jason Miller said he was in his home Tuesday afternoon when he heard the loud crash.

"There were seven or eight cops pulling up, getting out, guns drawn, running at the car," Miller said. "Then I saw the EMS pull up ... they got the baby out right away."

Miller said officers worked for "probably about an hour and a half" to extricate Baker from the car.

“The collaboration with our partners in law enforcement and Fire and EMS was once again on display during this tragic and rapidly evolving incident," Sheriff Fredrick Stevens said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this innocent baby and to the deputies, officers and EMS that were involved in the lifesaving attempt for this infant. No one should have to deal with tragedy like this, but unfortunately, they did today.”

Tiffin police chief David Pauly also released a statement on the incident:

"My heart breaks for the family of this innocent child, and you can be sure this matter will be investigated thoroughly to determine exactly why and what occurred today. The Tiffin Police wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family. I appreciate the work of our Tiffin Officers, Detectives and Dispatchers. Additionally, I would like to thank our many first responding partners including the Seneca County Sheriff's Deputies and Detectives, Fostoria Detectives, and Tiffin Fire and Rescue Division. This was an unfortunate tragedy today, and these things also take its toll on our first responders. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well".