Barry Baker, Man Who Punched Victim With Cerebral Palsy, Wants His Side Told

WEST CHESTER, PA — Contrite for his actions while offering background to the events that made him infamous, Barry Baker said in a recent interview with the Daily Local News that he's not a bully.

"I'm not a bully," he told the paper. "I never was. But I just want to get my life back. I take full responsibility for my actions. Nothing justifies what I did.”

Baker's seemingly unprovoked mimicry and then sucker-punching of a man with cerebral palsy was caught on surveillance camera in front of a West Chester 7-11 back in May.

After that, Baker, of Georgetown, Delaware, went on the run with the assistance of his fiance, who is also being charged. After he failed to show up in court for a hearing, police posted a $5,000 reward for his capture. The ensuing manhunt, and the video that trailed along with the news, spread like wildfire across social media.

Baker was ultimately captured at the Clarion Hotel in Exton on June 5 by U.S. Marshals.

In the video, Baker can be plainly seen mocking the victim before suddenly hitting him. In the recent interview, Baker said that the victim had been acting inappropriate toward a woman earlier in the night at a nearby bar.

"Who do you think you are, Dr. Phil?" Baker reportedly said the victim called to him.

Later, after the bar closed, Baker said he was walking out of 7-11 when the victim pulled in, and alleges that the victim said, "Oh look, it's Dr. Phil again" which ultimately led to the incident in the video.

Baker, who previously owned a landscaping service, said that he has since lost his business. He's also reportedly received death threats and was injured in an altercation with guards at Chester County Prison, where the most recent interview took place. There have also been calls to charge him with a hate crime, or to change the law in Pennsylvania so that such actions can be prosecuted as hate crimes.

Baker's criminal trial is set to begin on Sept. 18 on charges of simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. He is also being charged with flight to avoid apprehension; a formal arraignment for those charges is scheduled for Sept. 7. He remains booked at Chester County Prison.

Read the full interview with the Daily Local News here.

See Patch's full coverage of this case below:

• Video: Suspect Mocks, Then Sucker Punches Man With Cerebral Palsy
• Suspect Accused In Chester County Beating Of Man Draws National Fury
• Suspect Who Attacked Man With Cerebral Palsy In West Chester Also Stole From Military Graves
• Barry Baker Captured In Chester County Hotel By U.S. Marshals
• Father Of Barry Baker Among 46 Arrested In Massive Drug Bust
  

Image via Chester County DA's Office