The victim of a police shooting in Stevens Point over the weekend was on the run from authorities. The Portage County Sheriff's Department says 41-year-old Michael W Baker from Ladysmith had been an absconder from probation since March of 2007, for which there were also three felony arrest warrants out for Baker on burglary charges in Wisconsin. Baker was shot and killed by 39-year-old Officer Michael Rottier of the Stevens Point Police Department Saturday afternoon.
Police say Baker was in a suspected stolen vehicle when confronted Saturday. He fled from authorities who used a taser to try and subdue him. When he began fighting with officer Rottier, the officer fired two shots, striking Baker in the chest killing him. Rottier has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.
