Suspected drunk driver brought up on criminal child endangerment charge

A 26-year-old man is facing multiple charges after Montana Highway Patrol troopers caught him allegedly drinking and driving with a young child in the vehicle earlier this month.  

Prosecutors have brought Bradley Grant Baker up on a felony charge of criminal child endangerment and a misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer in connection with an April 9 traffic stop near Corporate Drive in Kalispell. Baker is expected to appear before Judge Heidi Ulbricht in Flathead County District Court on May 1 for his arraignment.  

Troopers stopped Baker after spotting a child riding in a white Cadillac sedan allegedly without a seatbelt about 11 p.m. Running the Cadillac's plates, the trooper learned it belonged to Baker, who had an active misdemeanor warrant, court documents said.  

Approaching the sedan after pulling it over, the trooper spotted empty beer cans on the floorboards, court documents allege. The trooper reported that Baker, who initially used his brother's name, boasted bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Baker also smelled of alcohol, according to court documents.  

Though he denied drinking, Baker's performance in a standardized field sobriety test indicated otherwise, court documents said. Despite initially refusing additional testing, he later agreed to a blood draw.  

The child was placed into the care of his grandmother after authorities alerted Child and Family Services, according to court documents. 

News editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.