Andrew J. Baker, a 29-year-old South Boston man, was released on personal recognizance Monday after pleading not guilty to a drunk driving charge, according to court records and State Police.
Baker is the son of former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation. He appeared in Peabody District Court to face a single count of operating under the influence of liquor, a misdemeanor, court records show.
According to State Police and police dispatches on Broadcastify.com, a driver called Peabody police on Saturday and said they were following a Volkswagen Jetta that was driving erratically.
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The Jetta “hit a wall” and moments later “almost struck a vehicle,” the driver told police, according to the dispatch recordings.
The Jetta went onto Route 114 westbound and then headed south on Route 128. Around this time, a police cruiser pulled in behind the car. With sirens sounding in the background, the officer told dispatchers the Jetta was not stopping.
“He is not stopping,” the officer said in the recording. “Low speed.”
The Jetta came to a stop on Route 128 south near the Walnut Street interchange with Route 1 in Lynnfield, police said.
Police identified the driver of the Jetta as Baker, according to the recording.
Around 8:15 p.m., a State Police trooper joined the local officer and spoke with Baker, who was already outside of the car, State Police said. The trooper “observed signs of intoxication during his interaction with the operator” and conducted several field sobriety tests, according to State Police.
“Based on the results of those tests, in conjunction with his observations of the operator and statements made by the operator, the Trooper formed the opinion that the operator was impaired by liquor,” State Police said.
Baker was taken to the State Police barracks in Danvers, where he was released on personal recognizance and a $40 bail fee, State Police said.
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On Monday, Judge James D. Barretto ordered him not to drive without a valid license. He granted a request by defense attorney Kevin M. Mitchell ordering law enforcement to hand over police reports, any body camera video from officers who were involved, and the results of a chemical breath test administered at the scene, court records show.
A pre-trial hearing was set for June 14. Baker left the courthouse without speaking to reporters, according to media reports.
Baker’s license was suspended after Saturday’s arrest until June 12, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. He was previously cited for speeding on the Massachusetts Turnpike on June 13, 2016, in Westfield and in New York state on Sept. 3, 2016, according to RMV records.
The drunk driving allegation is not Baker’s first brush with law enforcement. In 2018, a woman accused Baker of groping her during a JetBlue flight from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Charlie Baker, who was governor at the time, said the US Attorney’s office would investigate the allegations. No charges were brought against him.
Charlie Baker’s second term as governor ended in January. He began his new job as president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in March.
John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com. Follow him @NickStoico.