Police Blotter

SCRANTON – A Mehoopany area man wanted on sexual assault charges has been arrested in New York, U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced Friday.

On Oct. 20, state police investigated the alleged sexual assault of a minor in Mehoopany Township. The later issued an arrest warrant against Joshua Baker, 27, charging him with one count each of aggravated indecent without consent; aggravated indecent – forcible compulsion; corruption of minors – defendant age 18 or above; indecent assault without consent of other; and indecent assault forcible compulsion.

Baker fled the Mehoopany area in an attempt to elude law enforcement, Pane said. Baker was also being sought by the Susquehanna County Probation and Parole on an arrest warrant dated Oct. 24 charging him with failure to comply with the terms of parole. Baker was on parole for previous arrests, convictions and sentences in 2004 for assault and 2011 for theft.

State police requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend Baker. On Wednesday, U.S. Marshals based in Scranton developed information that Baker may be traveling to New York City on a bus. Scranton Marshals coordinated with the New York – New Jersey Port Authority Police Department, who arrested Baker without incident when he arrived in Manhattan.

Baker was to be arraigned in New York prior to his extradition back to Pennsylvania.