photo by TBI
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working jointly with the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and multiple other local, state and federal agencies, on Friday resulted in the arrest of a man who was the subject of a two-day manhunt in Dickson County.
Stephen Wiggins is now facing a charge of first-degree murder.
At the request of 23rd District Attorney General Ray Crouch, on Wednesday, TBI special agents, along with these partner agencies, responded to investigate the on-duty homicide of Dickson County Sergeant Daniel Baker.
Initial information indicates that shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday, a resident reported a suspicious vehicle on Sam Vineyard Road. Sergeant Baker responded to that call. After a period of time, when the deputy failed to check in, attempts were made to track him and his vehicle via GPS. The deputy’s vehicle was ultimately located in a wooded area off Bear Creek Valley Road, about two miles away from the location of the initial call. Sergeant Baker was found inside the vehicle, deceased.
During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that Steven Wiggins was responsible for the deputy’s death. On that same day, Wiggins was added to the TBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted list, and remained on the run for two days.
Around 7:15 a.m. Friday, a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol was patrolling an area along the Hickman/ Dickson County line when he spotted Wiggins on Stinson Road near a tree line. The trooper took Wiggins into custody without incident. He was transported to a Dickson County hospital for a medical evaluation.
On Friday evening, Wiggins was booked into the Dickson County Jail before being transported to the Davidson County Jail. Wiggins is being held without bond.