Pickaxe Vandalism Case Returns to Court Thursday

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, at 8:30 a.m. at the Pasadena Courthouse, 300 E. Walnut St., for a 65-year-old local woman accused of using a pickaxe to smash windows at her neighbor’s home while a grandmother and infant were inside.

Beverly Ann Baker will appear in Department D to face felony vandalism charges stemming from an October 2022 incident that caused an estimated $20,000 in damage.

Surveillance video allegedly captured Baker destroying multiple windows at a home in the 1700 block of Asbury Drive around 5 p.m. on October 24, 2022. One of the smashed windows was directly above a newborn’s bassinet, forcing the homeowner’s mother-in-law to quickly move the 6-week-old infant to safety.

“I’ll be back,” Baker reportedly threatened while walking away from the scene. She was arrested following a 30-minute standoff with police.

The victims, Arman Tchoukadarian and his family, had recently moved into what they considered their dream house. The incident shattered their sense of security, with Tchoukadarian’s wife and child refusing to return home out of fear. The family obtained a restraining order against Baker.

Commander Bill Grisafe of the Pasadena Police said earlier there appeared to be no prior relationship between Baker and the victims, though Baker owns property in the immediate vicinity of the Tchoukadarian home. Authorities indicated Baker may have been experiencing a mental health crisis during the incident.

Baker was initially arraigned on October 26, 2022. The case has progressed through several court appearances, including hearings in July 2023, as the legal proceedings continue.