ATHOL — On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at approximately 2:36 p.m., Athol Police Officer Cody Vitols responded to a report of a 209A Abuse Prevention Order violation in the municipal parking lot on Exchange Street.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Cody Vitols and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Officers spoke to the reporting party, Tia [last name redacted],” Officer Vitols said. “Tia stated she was sitting on a set of steps in the parking lot when the defendant of the restraining order, Daniel Baker-Walker, walked by her several times before coming over to the steps and sitting next to her. Tia stated that is when she got up, walked away, and called the Athol Police Department.”
The nature of Tia and Baker-Walker’s relationship (i.e. whether they dated, were strangers, acquaintances, etc.) was not specified in the court documents obtained by News Link Live in its Freedom of Information request of the incident.
Tia, 31, wrote the following in a voluntary statement she submitted to the Athol Police Department: “I sat behind the old bowling alley and Dan walked by me three times then came back and sat where I was at, so I left and called the APD [Athol Police Department]. He also said, ‘What am I going to do next?'”
According to police, Daniel Baker-Walker, 31, is homeless in Orange, MA.
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Officer Vitols confirmed that Tia’s abuse prevention order against Baker-Walker was active and remains in effect until May 15, 2026. The order requires Baker-Walker to stay at least 100 yards away from her.
Officer Vitols located Baker-Walker near the stairs in the municipal parking lot.
“Daniel was advised he was under arrest for a 209A violation,” Officer Vitols said. Officer Vitols handcuffed Baker-Walker, searched him, and placed him in the rear of his cruiser.
“Daniel was transported, Mirandized, and booked without incident,” Officer Vitols said.
Baker-Walker was held without bail.
After booking, Officer Vitols transported Baker-Walker to Orange District Court and transferred custody to Franklin County House of Corrections.
Daniel Baker-Walker was charged with the following:
- Violate Abuse Prevention Order (for coming within 100 yards of Tia and sitting next to her)
Baker-Walker was arraigned in Orange District Court on June 6, 2025. Following his arraignment, Baker-Walker was released under the condition that he abide by the restraining order. He attended a pretrial hearing on July 7, 2025, which was continued to Sept. 15, 2025.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in June, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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