Assistant Music Professor and former Arkansas Senator Gilbert Baker was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Friday, Aug. 26.
Public Information Officer for the Conway Police Department LaTresha Woodruff said Baker, 59, was arrested at 8:16 p.m. by Conway police.
An online inmate roster from the Faulkner County Sheriff ’s Office stated violation of the Omnibus DWI Act, refusal to submit to a blood alcohol calculation, or BAC, and driving left of center of the lane as reasons for the arrest. According to the roster, Baker was booked into the Faulkner County Jail at 4:25 a.m. on Aug. 27 and his bond was set at $1,395.
Baker currently teaches music classes at UCA and is a tenured professor. Dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts Terry Wright declined to comment on the potential consequences of the arrest because such information is considered “personnel information.”
Associate Vice President for Communications, Public Relations and Marketing Christina Madsen also declined to discuss details of the case because of a “long- standing” university policy and restrictions provided by the Freedom of Information Act.
“The FOIA limits what records can be released and therefore we do follow that law with regards to personnel matters,” Madsen said.
Although Madsen did not comment on what actions the university may take, she said that the university will investigate the matter further.
“If faculty is accused of a crime, we investigate each one individually on a case-by-case basis,” Madsen said.
Baker, from Conway, was the Republican state senator from 2001 to 2013 for District 30, which includes Conway, Mayflower, Greenbrier and Vilonia.
After retiring from the state senate, Baker began working as a lobbyist for UCA.
In 2012, Baker acquired an executive position at UCA. In 2014, Baker was implicated in funneling money to then-Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio’s political campaign.
Baker now works as an assistant professor of music at UCA.
image via Flickr
