Suspected gunman accidentally freed from Cowlitz County jail

The Mason County Sheriff’s office says a man accused of shooting at a sheriff’s deputy in March has been accidentally released from jail. There was no information about when he was released.

According to the sheriff’s office, 27-year-old Joshua Weythman Baker shot at a deputy — who was not hit by gunfire — during pursuit March 31. Baker was being held at the Cowlitz County jail as a suspect in the shooting.

According to Q13 News, the Mason County warrant had a problem, which led to Baker’s release from jail. Officials believe he was given a bus ticket to the Olympia area.

The state Department of Corrections’ Southwest Community Response Unit and the U.S. marshals in Washington and Oregon, and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Baker, 27, in Portland on April 4.

There was brief foot pursuit before he was caught in Portland. Officers say they found several guns in his vehicle. They also arrested his uncle on a felony warrant out of Florida.

Mason County sheriff’s deputies had been looking for Baker after they say he took off when an officer tried to pull him over about 11 p.m. March 31 on state Route 3.

Speeds hit 100 mph and the driver began shooting at the pursuing Mason County sheriff’s deputy, authorities said. The deputy was not hurt.

The chase came to an end on East Johns Prairie Road near Route 3 when the driver and passenger jumped out and fled on foot. Officials say the deputy fired at the armed suspect. They do not believe anyone was injured.

Authorities said after a thorough search, they did not find Baker or a woman who was in the car.

Baker has two felony warrants for escape from DOC community custody and possession of a stolen firearm.

This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Suspected gunman accidentally freed from Cowlitz County jail."