{"id":2876,"date":"2026-07-07T04:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2026-07-07T04:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:34:00","slug":"family-seeks-answers-after-mesa-police-custody-death-autopsy-report-still-pending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=2876","title":{"rendered":"Family seeks answers after Mesa police custody death; autopsy report still pending"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MESA, AZ \u2014 Every day, Charlee Baker passes the Buena Apartments, each time feeling a wave of pain.<\/p>\n

Read more WATCH: Gilbert Arts Academy revamps curriculum with robotics, drones and expanded arts education<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s here that her father, 52-year-old Eric Baker, died while in Mesa Police custody on April 4. Three months later, the Baker family is still waiting for answers, and for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner\u2019s report.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t understand why he was even over here,\u201d Charlee said on Monday, standing near the apartments where her father\u2019s life ended.<\/p>\n

Baker told ABC15 she hasn\u2019t heard from Mesa Police since Easter weekend. On Monday, the medical examiner\u2019s office confirmed that Eric Baker\u2019s autopsy results are still pending, a delay that stands out since the agency\u2019s spokesperson noted most cases are completed within 90 days.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re taking every step to figure out what really happened,\u201d Charlee said.<\/p>\n

Mesa Police said officers stopped Eric Baker that night for riding a bicycle without a headlight and detained him for outstanding warrants. An eyewitness in a nearby apartment recorded cellphone video reviewed by ABC15, which shows three officers with Baker on the ground, while he screams for help.<\/p>\n

Police say paramedics responded and attempted to save Baker, but he died later that evening.<\/p>\n

The department placed the three officers on 40-hour critical incident leave. According to Mesa PD regulations, this leave is not considered disciplinary action.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of getting swept under the rug, and not really being taken seriously. It\u2019s not fair. It\u2019s not fair to him,\u201d Charlee Baker said.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Dignity of Choice\u2019: Navy veteran rebuilds life with help from Valley nonprofit<\/a><\/p>\n

Phoenix attorney Benjamin Taylor, who represents the Baker Family, has previously filed cases against Mesa Police.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the video (in Baker\u2019s case) I don\u2019t see a man who\u2019s resisting arrest,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

While Mesa Police told ABC15 it\u2019s also eager to see the medical examiner\u2019s findings, Taylor emphasized that the department could release its own evidence sooner.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not uncommon for the medical examiner\u2019s report to take a while. However, Mesa Police should release their body camera and the police report because they\u2019re in full control of that,\u201d Taylor added.<\/p>\n

Taylor says the witness video is a powerful element in the case. He has not filed a notice of claim pending the autopsy findings.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This article was converted from a broadcast script to a written news piece using artificial intelligence for website publication. All material adheres to strict AP Style guidelines and was reviewed for accuracy.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Man killed in shooting near 16th Street and Camelback Road early Monday<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s here that Eric Baker died while in Mesa Police custody on April 4. Three months later, the Baker family is still waiting for answers, and for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner\u2019s report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mesa-news"],"yoast_head":"\nFamily seeks answers after Mesa police custody death; autopsy report still pending - Arizona Moving Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/arizonamovinginsider.com\/?p=2876\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Family seeks answers after Mesa police custody death; autopsy report still pending - Arizona Moving Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It's here that Eric Baker died while in Mesa Police custody on April 4. 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