Tyler Baker, 23, has been charged with aggravated burglary and theft from an Ooltewah home.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received a call for assistance from the homeowner at 7004 Tenderfoot Trail on Wednesday, at approximately 10:22 p.m. When deputies arrived on scene, they were advised by Garrett Whitson that he was in his garage getting hunting gear ready for a duck hunt the following morning. He left the garage area going to the front of the residence to move his vehicle to load the hunting gear. When he returned to the garage, he noticed a strong odor of cigarette smoke and realized someone was in the garage. He yelled to his father who was upstairs for assistance and at that time the suspect ran from the garage.
The suspect was seen entering a 2006 white four door Ford Fusion with tinted windows, dressed in black clothing. A witness driving by the residence at that time, followed the suspect vehicle a short distance until it stopped about a block from the victim's residence. The suspect exited the vehicle and had a shotgun that he handed to the witness.
The suspect, identified as Tyler Baker was taken into custody by HCSO deputies. The shotgun along with other electronic equipment found in the suspect’s vehicle was identified as belonging to the victim. Other property located in the vehicle was turned into the HCSO Property Division.
Baker was transported to the Hamilton County Jail charged with aggravated burglary, theft over $2000 and aggravated criminal trespassing. He is under a $10,000 dollar bond, with a court date of Feb. 21, 2013.