CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS 10) - A judge sentenced an Ellison man to serve seven years and six months in prison following an incident that occurred in July 2014.
Gary Wayne Baker was sentenced on multiple charges including strangulation, maliciously wounding of a law enforcement officer, and four counts of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer. An additional six years and six months were suspended.
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On July 11, 2014, authorities say Deputy D.A. Parks responded to a 911 call in the area of Brake Road in Elliston. The caller stated a man and woman were in an altercation and the woman was yelling "he is hurting me."
Dep. Parks arrived and heard yelling coming from a home located on Brake Road. According to officials, Dep. Parks found Baker on top of his wife, Shelby Baker. Baker had has hands around her neck and was choking her, yelling "I'll kill you."
Dep. Parks announced "police, get off of her" and announced he was under arrest. After getting the handcuff on one of Baker's wrists Baker pulled back, rolled to his feet, hit Dep. Parks in the face, and ran inside the home.
Authorities say Dep. Parks pursued Baker inside. Again Baker was told he was under arrest. Baker then swung the handcuff hanging off his wrist at Dep. Parks' face. Dep. Parks attempted to subdue Baker with both a baton and pepper spray but was unable to.
Baker went into a back bedroom and tried to shut the door. As Dep. Parks was trying to get into the room he observed Baker reaching for a sheathed machete lying on a bed. Dep. Parks yelled "don't do it" and burst through the door, knocking Baker into the wall.
While trying to secure Baker in handcuffs Baker turned his head and bit Dep. Parks in his right thigh and held on, drawing blood. Other deputies arrived and were able to control and secure Baker.
Authorities say all of the charges to which Baker pled are felonies and carried a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison. Upon Baker's release from prison he will be placed on supervised probation.