Sucker puncher arrested

Posted by Press Release on May 22, 2017

•••Update: Baker no longer lives in Coatesville, according to the district attorney's office.***

The person who sucker punched a man with cerebral palsy in West Chester has been arrested.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the West Chester Police Department announced the arrest of Barry Baker for assault. The defendant saw a man with cerebral palsy walking into a convenience store, mocked the victim’s disability, then sucker punched the victim in the face, according to a press release from Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

The entire incident was captured on video.

West Chester Police Chief Scott Bohn said, “The defendant’s actions are appalling. You wonder what would make an individual treat somebody like that.”

According to Hogan, “This defendant is a bully. Every decent citizen should be outraged by the defendant’s conduct. The victim is to be commended for keeping his cool and notifying the police.”

The defendant is 29 years old. He lives on Somerset Drive in Coatesville.

According to the press release, on May 10, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the defendant and his friends were at a 7-11 convenience store located at 200 South High Street, West Chester. The victim, a 22-year-old man with cerebral palsy, drove into the parking lot and parked his vehicle. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination.

The victim got out of his vehicle and entered the store. The defendant started making fun of the victim, mocking how the victim walked. When the victim came back out of the store, the defendant again mocked the victim, imitating how the victim moved. As the victim was standing in front of his vehicle, the defendant punched the victim directly in the face, without any warning. The defendant then fled around the corner of the store.

Baker has been charged with simple assault and related crimes. Bail was set at 10 percent of $25,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2017.

Anybody with information about the incident should contact the West Chester Police Department at 610-696-2600.