Duo Busted for Theft Following Methadone Treatment, Cops Say

A couple is charged with stealing a weedwacker shortly after one of the two completed their first methadone treatment, according to statements made by one of the suspects to police.

Timothy Baker 35, of Bensalem, and Jamie Kauffman, 28, of Morrisville, were arrested on Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of Diamond Check Cashing on West Trenton Avenue in the Morrisville section of Falls Township.

Police were called to the area of Diamond Check Cashing by a motorist who watched a man – suspected to be Baker – driving a blue Saturn sedan with a New Jersey license plate drink out of what appeared to be a beer bottle, according to court records.

A Falls police officer pulled up as Baker was cleaning a weedwacker that was in the trunk of the sedan. According to police, Baker said “Oh s**t” and mumbled something to Kauffman, who was seated in the Saturn, when he spotted the patrolman.

Falls and a Morrisville Borough officers responded to assist and discovered an open bottle of Smirnoff Ice Raspberry Blast located in the front cup holder, police said.

Baker told officers he was heading to Diamond Check Cashing to pawn a weedwacker, police said. He added that he was a landscaper with 12 clients currently, and said his license was suspected due to a DUI incident in New Jersey, according to court papers.

A Morrisville officer placed Baker under arrest. The 35-year-old said he still wanted to speak with officers even after being Mirandized, police said.

“I’m sorry guys. I’m a retard.” Baker is quoted as saying in court papers.  He then asked if he could just take the weedwacker back.

Baker went on to describe the events that lead up to his late afternoon arrest, police said.

Hours after taking Kauffman for her first methadone treatment, he wanted to get a cheap cell phone from the mall for her, police said. The two drove around for a bit before he took a Echo String Trimmer weedwacker from the ground next to a landscaping trailer at the apartment complex next to Penndel Mental Health Center in the 1700 block of Woodbourne Road in Middletown, police said.

Police said while Baker had an odor of alcohol coming from his breath, he was given a field sobriety test and passed. Baker “did not show any obvious signs of being intoxicated to a degree rendering him incapable of safe driving,” according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in district court.

Officers found a torn blue wax paper bag found in Kaufman’s purse, police said. They stated a wax paper bag is often used to package heroin.

A cigarette carton wrapper was found with suspected drug residue in Baker’s wallet, police said.

Both were later discovered to be on probation and detainers for probation violations were issued by officials, according to court documents.

The two were charged with two counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and one count of possession of paraphernalia. Baker was additionally charged with restriction of alcoholic beverages and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked.

Baker and Kauffman are being held on county jail on detainers violating probation. The two will be arraigned Monday morning before District Judge Jan Vislosky.