VANDERBURGH COUNTY, INDIANA — An Evansville man faces attempted murder charges after stealing a beer truck Friday afternoon, leading deputies on a chase into Posey County, steering the semi directly at a deputy trying to deploy stop sticks, and crashing into a field after striking a patrol car, according to a news release from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Noah Robinson.
At approximately 3:07 p.m. on March 27, 2026, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a report of a stolen beer truck out of Evansville. Deputies spotted the truck traveling westbound on Diamond Avenue near Resurrection Drive and tried to pull it over. The driver refused and kept going into Posey County.
During the chase, a deputy stepped out of his patrol vehicle to deploy stop sticks. The driver, Randall Baker, 41, of Evansville, steered the semi directly toward the deputy. Baker missed the deputy but slammed into the patrol car, causing extensive damage. The semi then left the roadway and came to rest in a field. The deputy was not injured.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office
Baker refused to get out of the truck after the crash. Deputies deployed pepperball rounds and took him into custody. Baker went to Deaconess Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Randall Baker (Vanderburgh County Jail)
Baker faces the following preliminary charges:
- attempted murder
- auto theft
- criminal recklessness
- resisting law enforcement
- reckless operation of a tractor-trailer
- operating while intoxicated.
The case remains under investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
