Man blames pain meds for home invasion

A family that recently moved to north Fulton County from Illinois got a rude awakening when a stranger drove his car into the home's brick steps and then went inside.

Joseph Preuth told Milton police he awoke Aug. 16 shortly after 6 a.m. after hearing two loud noises, according to an incident report obtained by the AJC. When he walked into his living room, Preuth saw a man wearing only shorts holding a metal shelf bracket.

"Who are you and where is my daughter?" the intruder, later identified as Sanford Baker, 51,  asked Preuth. "I will hurt you if you don't give me my daughter."

Preuth called 911 and called to his wife and two other adult relatives in the Nettlebrook Lane home, and the four adults surrounded the suspect until police arrived. Preuth told Baker his daughter was not in the home.

When officers arrived, Baker said he was "told by people" that his 13-year-old daughter was drinking and partying at the home, according to the report. But Baker's wife said the couple's daughter was home and safe.

Baker also said he didn't know how he arrived at the home and was confused about the day of the week and the name of the president of the United States, police said. He said he was scheduled for back surgery and was taking pain medication.

Officers found Baker's PT Cruiser in the yard of the home near the front brick steps, which had been destroyed, police said. The car's front bumper was damaged from running into the steps.

Baker was taken to North Fulton Regional Hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Fulton County jail. He faces aggravated assault, criminal damage and burglary charges.