Warrant issued for Worthington woman accused of meth possession

As a result of a WPD investigation into a traffic stop that occurred in Worthington in mid-March, criminal charges have been filed against a Worthington woman for possession of meth and paraphernalia. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.

A warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of Jennifer Rose Baker, 38, Worthington, as a result of an investigation by Deputy Marshal Heather Wood of the Worthington Police Department into an incident that occurred on March 17.

Officer Wood was on partrol with her K9 Jack on Wednesday, March 17, when she initiated a traffic stop around 2:12 p.m. on a gray Mazda minivan headed west on 3rd St. in Worthington with a brake light out.

The driver was identified as Troy Hostetter. Officer Wood reported Hostetter was sweating and his hands were shaking, saying he was on his cell phone arguing with an ex-girlfriend.

During the stop, Jennifer Baker arrived at the scene on foot and was told to stand off to the side. When asked if Baker was the ex-girlfriend he had been arguing with, Hostetter said no, and he didn't know why Baker was there. However, he did say he had just dropped Baker off at her residence on 3rd St. When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Hostetter said no. And then another woman showed up near the scene and again, Hostetter said he didn't know why she was there.

Hostetter did ask the officer if she pulled him over because his ex-girlfriend had said that he hit her. Officer Wood told him she was there for the traffic stop and she wasn't aware of anything else.

When Hostetter got out of the vehicle and K9 Jack was deployed, K9 Jack gave a positive alert. When Hostetter was questioned about the alert, he allegedly said that Baker had a bag of prescription pills inside the vehicle but he wasn't sure what all she takes or even if the bag was still in the vehicle.

During a search, Officer Wood located the bag with Baker’s prescription medication. She also found a glass smoking device with white residue as well as Bud Light beer cans that were opened and empty. The smoking device field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Hostetter said he didn't know it was inside the vehicle then he looked at Baker and said she better own this because it wasn't his. Baker allegedly then told WPD Chief Jim O'Malley that the device was hers and she said everything inside the vehicle was hers and that Hostetter was coming back to pick her up and she had left all the items inside the vehicle.

After a report about the incident was forwarded to the prosecutor's office, a criminal case was filed against Baker and a warrant issued for her arrest.

Baker is facing charges of:

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.