Chaotic situation involving fight & firearm lands two Baker City men in jail
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY — A disturbance at a Baker City home resulted in the arrests of two men following a violent altercation and a firearm incident.
According to probable cause affidavits, on June 7 police responded at approximately 9:15 p.m. to a house on 4th and Mitchell in South Baker on reports of two men fighting in the yard. Upon arrival, officers found David Palmer, who stated he lived at the residence with his girlfriend and her son, Rylan Shuckle. Palmer claimed Rylan had assaulted him, repeatedly punching him in the back of the head and putting him in a chokehold. According to officers, Palmer showed visible signs of injury, including spots of blood in his hair. He later required medical attention and received three staples in his scalp.
Rylan admitted to hitting Palmer several times and placing him in a chokehold. He told officers that Palmer did not physically engage him during the altercation.
As officers were addressing the fight, a neighbor came up and told officers that he intervened after hearing a child’s screams. The neighbor said he witnessed the two men fighting and managed to break up the altercation, instructing Palmer to go inside the house. Shortly after, the neighbor heard Palmer’s girlfriend yelling that Palmer had grabbed a firearm. The neighbor told police he confronted Palmer, who allegedly pointed a revolver at him and made a threatening remark. The neighbor told officers he feared for his life and then wrestled the firearm from Palmer and secured it before police arrived.
Palmer initially claimed he retrieved the gun for self-protection and denied pointing it at anyone or making threats. However, Palmer’s girlfriend corroborated the neighbor’s account, stating she saw Palmer with the revolver and heard his threats to shoot Rylan. Palmer later admitted that his ability to think clearly had been impaired by alcohol.
Both Palmer and Shuckle were arrested; Shuckle for assault and Palmer for charges related to the firearm incident.
