After the WPD got numerous calls about a confused woman wandering around uptown in Worthington, appearing to be in an altered state, a Worthington woman was arrested and booked into the Green County Jail last week.

Jennifer Rose Baker, 38, Worthington, was arrested by Deputy Marshal Heather Wood of the Worthington Police Department last Wednesday, May 18. Baker bonded out of jail and a criminal case was filed against her yesterday, May 25.

Around 4:51 PM last Wednesday, Officer Wood and Officer Ryan Montgomery got several calls about a woman, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that was uptown in Worthington near the 67 Diner and the First Financial Bank, both located on State Road 67 / US 231. Callers reported she was standing too close to the highway then one said she had gone into the diner was confused. Another said she was bothering customers coming out of the bank.

The woman was Jennifer Rose Baker. Officer Wood found her near the bank standing very close to the highway. Officer Wood asked her if she was okay and told her they had several calls about her well-being but Baker would not make eye contact with the officer and kept staring off into the distance. She did not respond to several questions but when asked if she'd used methamphetamine, Baker allegedly said “a little.”

Baker was taken into custody but got upset, refused to get into the patrol car and tried to pull away. Once in the patrol car, she bumped the door with her shoulder in an attempt to get out.

When Officer Wood interviewed the callers, she heard similar stories. A woman inside the diner said Baker seemed confused when she walked in but asked the waitress for a cup of ice. When the waitress went to hand Baker the ice, Baker was staring off into the distance.

A teller at the bank said she was concerned when she saw Baker walking around the bank then getting close to the road. She said something wasn't right. She also said a customer called in about Baker standing near vehicles in the parking lot and that Baker was bothering her when she walked out of the bank.

Yet another witness said she saw Baker standing near the road and she stopped to ask her if she was okay. She said Baker was staring off and looking all around and delayed answering but eventually said she did not need help.

In addition, one of Baker’s neighbors requested extra patrol on Third Street where Baker’s residence is located. The neighbor, who has had issues with Baker wandering onto her property in the past, said she believed Baker was using drugs again and her behavior had been erratic.

Baker was booked into the Greene County Jail at 5:51 PM with bond set at $500 surety with 10% cash allowed. She has since posted bond and been released.

Baker is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court at an initial hearing on June 6 on a charge of public intoxication that endangers life, a Class B misdemeanor.