FOREST ACRES, S.C. — The Forest Acres Police Department (FAPD) has announced charges against Ashley Baker, the mother of four who they accused of crashing her car with her children inside after attempting to elude police.
Baker, 37, has been charged with failure to stop for blue lights, 4 counts of child endangerment, 2 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor , 2 counts of shoplifting under $2,000 (misdemeanor), and simple possession of marijuana (misdemeanor).
Baker's bond hearing was held Wednesday afternoon in her hospital room and a personal recognizance bond was set at $14,092.50.
FAPD released the incident report of the chase and subsequent arrest of Baker. In it, police say that Baker was identified as a suspected shoplifter at a store in Trenholm Plaza shopping center at the corner of Forest Drive and Trenholm Road. Instead of stopping for police in the parking lot, police said Baker attempted to flee the scene along Trenholm Road, traveling in the direction of North Beltline that at one point reached a speed of up to 72 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone.
Police said Baker's SUV eventually sideswiped a FAPD vehicle, hit a light pole and flipped in front of a house on Trenholm Road. Baker's four children ,all under the age of 13, were in the SUV and were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. Baker was also transported to the hospital, where she remained.
FAPD said they found merchandise totaling $800 in Baker's SUV and returned the items to Sephora and Bath & Body Works.
All charges are now referred to the General Sessions Court in Richland County.