Man Who Walked Away From Pacifica Custody Program Found, Arrested

PACIFICA, CA -- An offender who walked away from an Alternative Custody Program (ACP) in Pacifica on July 27 has been apprehended in San Francisco, according to the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Michael Baker, 37, was taken into custody on the corner of 24th Street and Balmy Street in San Francisco at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, according to the CDCR. Several members of the public reported seeing him in the area, aiding a joint effort that included the CDCR’s Bay Area Special Service Unit, Bay Area Fugitive Apprehension Team, Office of Correctional Safety Criminal Intelligence Analysis Unit and the San Francisco Police Department.

The arrest was made without incident, authorities say.

Baker began participating in ACP in July, and had been scheduled to be released in March 2020. He was received from Los Angeles County Aug. 28, 2018, with a two-year sentence for transporting/importing a controlled substance. He received an additional two-year, eight-month sentence for carrying/concealing a dirk or dagger, a second-strike offense to run concurrent to the first sentence.

After his re-arrest, Baker was transported to San Quentin State Prison. His case is to be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration of escape charges.

Since 1977, 99 percent of all offenders who have left an adult institution, camp or community-based program without permission have been apprehended, according to the Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation.