The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Friday announced the capture of Steven Wiggins [left], two days after he allegedly killed Sgt. Daniel Baker [right]
Steven Wiggins [photo], is the suspect in the shooting death of a Tennessee sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Daniel Baker on Wednesday
The manhunt for a Tennessee man who allegedly gunned down a Dickson County Deputy has been taken into custody, came to an end Friday with the fugitive in the custody of law enforcement.
The capture of Wiggins and end of a desperate three-day manhunt for the fugitive started after Wiggings shot and killed Trooper Kevin Burch,on Wednesday
Burch who only recently began working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, spotted a man near the wood line off Stinson Road Friday morning. As the officer approached him, he realized the man’s tattoos and description were consistent with a suspect wanted in the murder of Dickson County Sgt. Daniel Baker.
Steven Wiggins, 31, was taken into custody by officials without incident in Hickman County, not far from the scene of the shooting, Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Dereck Stewart said during a press conference late Friday morning.
Baker responded to reports of suspicious vehicle around 7 a.m. Wednesday. He’d come in ahead of schedule to support those finishing up the midnight shift amid staffing issues at the police department, according to Dickson county Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe.
“Being the man that he is, he came in early to assist,” he said. “It all escalated from there.”
Fellow officers eventually lost contact with Baker and tracked his patrol car using GPS navigation. When they arrived on the scene, they found the sergeant shot dead inside his vehicle.
Later in the day, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations put Wiggins on its Top 10 most wanted list, with multiple law enforcement agencies contributing to a $46,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
A bedraggled Wiggins was arrested wearing ripped muddy clothes, his jeans ripped open in connection to the death of Dickson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Daniel Baker on Friday.
Steven Wiggins, a suspect in a Tennessee deputy’s killing, is pictured being placed into the back seat of a patrol vehicle following his capture. When officers took him into custody, his clothes were muddy and his jeans were ripped open. His face was also covered in dirt and debris.
Wiggins was found by Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Burch on Stinson Road in Bon Aqua, not far from where he allegedly killed 32-year-old Sgt Daniel Baker.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Dereck Stewart said during a Friday morning press conference that Burch trained his weapon on the suspect and ordered him to lie on the ground, at which point Wiggins surrendered without showing any resistance.
‘He was totally obedient to the trooper’s orders,’ Smith said.
Wiggins was arrested in connection to the death of Dickson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Daniel Baker on Friday.
A visibly emotional Dickson County Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe vowed to be there every step away until his deputy’s loved ones get closure, even if it could take years for the criminal case against Wiggins to came its way through the legal system.
‘If they have to wheel me into the courthouse, I’ll be there,’ he promised.
![Daniel Baker [right] his wife Lisa Baker, and their young daughter, Meredith 1.png](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Daniel-Baker-right-his-wife-Lisa-Baker-and-their-young-daughter-Meredith-1.png?resize=620%2C498&ssl=1)
Sgt Daniel Baker [right], and his wife, Lisa, have a young daughter, Meredith, [centre]
An emotional Dickson County Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe [L-R], choked back tears as he read a letter from Lisa Baker, the slain officer’s widow on Friday
Struggling to keep his composure, and at times choking back tears, the sheriff went on to read a statement from Baker’s widow.
‘There are no words to describe the level of devastation that myself and family are dealing with,’ Lisa Baker wrote. ‘We the family of my husband and best friend Sgt Daniel Baker would like to convey our gratitude for the endless efforts of the law enforcement officers, EMS, fire and rescue, and volunteers in the apprehension of the two suspects that have forever changed our lives. Our deepest thank you.’
The TBI said a video recording allowed them to identify Wiggins as the suspect. Federal, state and local authorities searched for Wiggins over two days, following up on hundreds of tips.
Rewards totaling $46,000 had been offered for information leading to Wiggins’ capture.
Wiggins had been already wanted on charges that he assaulted a woman and stole her car when he was pulled over Wednesday, according to a report from the Kingston Springs Police Department.
A surveillance camera had captured the the image of Wiggings who was wanted for a slew of other crimes prior to his arrest
Erika Castro-Miles, [left], has also been charged with murder for her alleged role in the altercation that led to Wiggins [right] killing of Sgt. Daniel Baker
The suspect’s companion, Erika Castro-Miles has also been arrested for her participation in the altercation that led to the eventual killing of 32-year-old Sgt. Daniel Baker.
Castro-Miles, 38, allegedly was in the car with Wiggins when he pulled the trigger and she is now jailed on a murder charge in Baker’s death, according to court documents.
Officers on Wednesday received a call about a ‘suspicious vehicle’ on a local road and Baker responded, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland explained to WATE.
Baker was eventually found dead inside his patrol car two to three miles away from the scene. His GPS system was used to find his location after contact with Baker ceased.
Sgt. Daniel Baker was found dead inside his patrol car two to three miles away from the scene of the domestic incident he was investigating
He joined the department in 2008 and came from a family of officers – both his father and stepbrother worked for the Spring Hill Police Department.
‘There’s not much I can say today but our hearts are shattered,’ Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe said. ‘We just ask for your help.’
He added that Baker was ‘one of the best.’
‘This is one of our best deputies. He’s a supervisor. He’s worked his way up to sergeant on patrol, and he’s one of the ones why put it all on the line every day to keep our community safe. He was doing that again today with a call about a suspicious vehicle,’ Bledsoe added.
Baker seen with wife Lisa was as a father of one who came from a family of cops The former marine joined the department in 2008 and
Wiggins was already wanted for aggravated assault and theft, but the current charges stem from Castro-Miles’ Tuesday domestic call before police responded to in Kingston Springs.
The female caller claimed that Wiggins slapped her face and pulled her hair. She also said that he had a gun to her head and said that he was ‘going to kill her if she called the police.’
Wiggins was said to have taken Castro-Miles’ car without her permission.
He had ‘been doing meth all night and smoking marijuana,’ according to Castro-Miles.
She said he then grabbed her keys and took her car without her permission.
According to local news reports, an affidavit filed in Dickson County court says Castro-Miles was sitting in the car with Wiggins when he shot and killed the deputy. She fled the shooting scene Wednesday and hid under a house, the affidavit says.
Castro-Miles is currently being detained at the Dickson County Jail.
Undated pictures show Wiggins has what appears to be Nazi tattoos.
Wiggins was wanted for theft and aggravated assault before the murder of a cop. In this scocial media post he is seen showwing off what appears to be a Nazi tattoo
A Blue Alert was issued for Wiggins who has been arrested for domestic abuse or assault at least eight times in the last 12 years. the man described as being 6’1′ and approximately 220lbs.
Authorities have not revealed a possible motive for the slaying, but said they were able to quickly identify the 6’1” , 220lbs Wiggins, using surveillance footage.
Wiggins, who has a lengthy rap sheet dating back more than a decade, was wanted on multiple arrest warrants at the time of the fatal confrontation with Baker, a 32-year-old father and former Marine.
Following his arrest, the Wiggins [right], was taken to a hospital where he is currently being treated for injuries “consistent with someone who has been out in the wilderness for an extended period of time,” officials said.
He will be taken to the Dickson County Jail upon his release and restrained with the slain officer’s handcuffs.
Erika Castro-Miles Wednesday night was also arrested and charged with the deputy’s murder. According to court documents cited by the Tennessean, Castro-Miles was sitting in the car with Wiggins when he fatally shot Baker. She fled the scene and was found hiding under a house a short time later.
In a statement read aloud by Bledose, Baker’s wife, Lisa, thanked all the agencies involved in apprehending the suspects “that forever changed our lives.”
“There are no words to describe the level of devastation myself and my family are dealing with,” she said, requesting the community help her young daughter to always remember her father’s bravery.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched seeking donations to help Sgt Baker’s widow and young daughter.
Both Castro-Miles and Wiggins have been charged with first-degree murder. The district attorney in a press release said he will be seeking the death penalty against both suspects.
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