The Vero Beach Police Department served an arrest warrant for former Indian River County Administrator Joseph Baird on Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
Baird’s attorney, Andrew Metcalf, also told Sebastian Daily that there’s more to the story. He said the victim tried to file an injunction against Baird for stalking, but a judge denied it due to a lack of proof. Metcalf said his client has not been stalking the victim, and she has sent Baird multiple text messages.
Baird, 64, is charged with stalking that began on May 1, 2022, when the victim accused him of causing exterior damage to her 2021 Porche by using a key, which he denied.
The following day, the victim returned home and found Baird parked across the street from her residence. A few hours later, the victim left her home and observed Baird’s vehicle pulling out from the parking lot across the street, the affidavit said.
“She pulled over and confronted Baird,” the police said. The victim then told Baird, “I know you’re following me. I noticed you parked across the street earlier, and now you’re here again. Quit stalking me, or I’m going to get a restraining order.”
According to the affidavit, the victim then drove away to her parent’s house, where Baird followed her but didn’t turn on the same street. A few minutes later, Baird called the victim’s parents and began “rambling” to her father. Baird was told by the father that he’s “gone too far” and that if he didn’t leave his daughter alone, he would “personally take her to the police station and file a report.”
Then, from May 11 through May 17, the victim saw Baird’s vehicle parked across the street from her residence and took several pictures. She also received several text messages and calls from Baird. She then contacted the Vero Beach Police Department in an attempt to stop the “stalking” and “harassment.”
After reviewing the complaint, a detective called the former Indian River County Administrator and explained that the victim no longer wanted any contact with him.
“I explained to Baird if he continued to contact, follow, or harass (the victim), it could result in criminal charges. Baird said he understood and agreed he would not have any further contact,” the detective said.
About three hours later, Baird parked his vehicle across the street from the victim’s residence. When the victim left her home, Baird pulled out and began following her around town.
When the victim returned home, Baird again parked his vehicle across the street from her residence. The victim took more photos of Baird allegedly stalking her. She then hired a private investigator, who documented Baird “following and stalking” the victim and passed the documentation onto the Vero Beach Police Department.
The private investigator said there were times when Baird followed the victim to a restaurant and was observed in his vehicle in the parking lot and “sometimes ducking behind vehicles to avoid being seen,” the affidavit said.
Detectives then learned that on June 1, 2022, Baird rented a house close to the victim’s residence. The victim believed he rented the house to further “intimidate, stalk, and harass her.”
A warrant for Baird’s arrest was issued on June 24, 2022. Baird was arrested on June 28, 2022, and charged with one count of stalking.
An arraignment is set for July 19, 2022.
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