Local
Eric Baker’s family seeks answers after Mesa custody death is classified as homicide
Maricopa County’s medical examiner ruled that Eric Baker’s April 4 death in Mesa police custody was a homicide. The finding does not determine whether a crime occurred; prosecutors are expected to review the case, and Baker’s family has filed a $2 million notice of claim.
Maricopa County’s medical examiner has classified the death of Eric Baker, a 52-year-old man who died in Mesa police custody on April 4, as a homicide, a finding that comes six months after his death and does not by itself mean a crime was committed.
Mesa police stopped Baker while he was riding a bicycle without a headlight. Officers found outstanding warrants for lower-level offenses, and police said Baker tried to flee. A neighbor’s video, shared with local media, shows three officers holding Baker down. Police have said a Taser was used.
Baker’s family has filed a $2 million notice of claim against the Mesa Police Department, a step that can precede a lawsuit against a public agency. The family says it wants accountability and a resolution, not money.
“His daughters were his life. There’s nothing he wouldn’t have done for them,” said Terica Downing, the mother of one of Baker’s daughters. Downing said the family lives about a mile from where Baker was arrested.
Baker’s daughter, Charlee, said she would continue pushing for justice. The family’s attorney, Benjamin Taylor, said the family is waiting for evidence and the medical examiner’s findings.
The Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office said a review of the case is expected soon now that the medical examiner’s work is complete. Mesa police declined to provide further details, citing pending litigation and the need to let the legal process proceed.