Missoula Deputy Acquitted of Speeding Charge After Fatal Crash

Jury finds deputy not guilty despite county attorney's argument that he violated 1955 law

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:58pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car windshield against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the aftermath of a high-speed collision without depicting violence.A shattered windshield reflects the harsh reality of a high-speed police response that ended in tragedy.Lolo Today

A Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy, Michael Baker, was found not guilty of a speeding charge related to a fatal crash in 2024 that killed an elderly man. Baker was responding to execute a search warrant without lights or sirens, traveling 84 mph in a 70 mph zone, when the man failed to yield and turned onto the highway. While the Montana Highway Patrol did not find Baker at fault for the crash, the Missoula County Attorney's Office charged him with speeding, citing a 1955 law that allows officers to speed only if they have visual or audible signals. The jury ultimately disagreed with the county attorney's argument and found Baker not guilty.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding law enforcement's use of speed and emergency signals when responding to calls. It also raises questions about how prosecutors should handle cases where an officer's actions may have contributed to a fatal accident, even if they were not directly at fault.

The details

On May 14, 2024, Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Baker was headed to execute a search warrant, traveling 84 mph in a 70 mph zone without lights or sirens, when he collided with an elderly man's vehicle. The elderly man, who was not supposed to be driving due to a declining mental state, failed to yield and turned onto the highway. Baker was seriously injured in the crash, while the elderly man died. While the Montana Highway Patrol did not find Baker at fault for the crash, the Missoula County Attorney's Office charged him with speeding, citing a 1955 law that allows officers to speed only if they have visual or audible signals. The defense argued that Baker had to consider public safety, including those at the property where the search warrant was to be executed, and that using lights and sirens could have tipped off those individuals and created danger for officers. The jury ultimately found Baker not guilty.

  • On May 14, 2024, Deputy Michael Baker was involved in a fatal crash south of Lolo on Highway 93.
  • The trial for Baker's speeding charge took place this week in 2026.

The players

Michael Baker

A Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy who was involved in a fatal crash while responding to execute a search warrant.

Matt Jennings

The Missoula County Attorney who argued that Baker should have received a speeding ticket, citing a 1955 law.

Lance Jasper

An attorney with LPJ Law who represented Deputy Baker and argued that he had to consider public safety in his decision to not use lights and sirens.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just relieved. This was pretty difficult for me, so this is about as good an outcome as I could hope for given everything that's happened.”

— Michael Baker, Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy

“A person died in an accident involving a law enforcement vehicle. And so certainly we wouldn't have charged it if there wasn't probable cause for speeding or another violation on the highways of Montana. But we're not going to second-guess the jury on that.”

— Matt Jennings, Missoula County Attorney

“In this case, unfortunately, it was the other person's cause. Why do you have to prosecute someone? So I don't know, there's going to be a lot of discussion, I think, for the public and what they expect out of the county attorney's office and public safety.”

— Lance Jasper, Attorney, LPJ Law

What’s next

Lawmakers may revisit the wording of the 1955 law that allows law enforcement officers to speed if they have visual or audible signals, as the case has raised questions about how to balance public safety and officer discretion.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding law enforcement's use of speed and emergency signals when responding to calls, as well as the challenges prosecutors face in determining when to pursue charges against officers involved in fatal accidents.