Spokane Man Back In Jail After Standoff Held Girlfriend At Gunpoint In His North Spokane Home

A Spokane man with 34 criminal convictions is again in jail after holding his girlfriend at gunpoint for five hours in his north Spokane home Friday morning, police said.

Michael Ward Baker, 38, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree assault and violating a protection order. Police said an additional charge of reckless endangerment may be added later.

Officers arrived at Baker’s house, 2204 E. Longfellow, shortly after 2 a.m. when a neighbor reported seeing Baker with a gun. She told police it looked like he was loading a rifle.

Minutes later, a woman called 911 from Baker’s house but quickly hung up, police said. When operators called back, a man answered and said everything was OK.

Police went to the house anyway because they had arrested Baker last week for domestic violence at the same address. His girlfriend, whose name was not released, filed a protection order against Baker as a result of an Aug. 11 incident.

Police spokesman Dick Cottam said officers knew Baker had several weapons inside the home. SWAT team members surrounded the house, and a half-dozen neighbors across the street and next to Baker’s home were evacuated while police tried to call him on the telephone.

The neighbors were taken to a nearby church during the standoff, and the Red Cross supplied food. Streets were blocked to traffic for four blocks around the house.

Shortly before 7 a.m., Baker’s girlfriend walked outside. Fifteen minutes later, Baker left the house and was handcuffed.

Detectives said Baker fired three shots at the floor inside his house. The woman was not injured. They are unsure what sparked the standoff, Cottam said.

Baker, who has been arrested 70 times, has convictions that include driving under the influence, possession of drugs, assault and weapons charges.

, DataTimes