A Cromwell man was arrested early Sunday after Indiana State Police troopers found him hiding 20 feet up a tree, hours after he allegedly threatened someone with an axe and rammed a vehicle with a stolen pickup truck.

Police say the incident began around 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in the 9000 block of North State Road 13, where Michael Baker, 39, allegedly threatened a victim, stole a black Ford truck, and used it to strike another vehicle before fleeing.

Troopers from the Bremen Post joined Kosciusko County deputies at the scene, following tire tracks into a wooded area north of the location. The abandoned truck was found shortly after, and a trooper and his K9 parter started tracking the suspect.

About 30 minutes later, officers heard faint calls for help deeper in the woods. A search led to Baker, who was found perched in a tree, secured by his T-shirt looped around his neck and the trunk for balance.

Baker attempted to climb down but fell and became stuck about 10 feet from the ground before eventually falling to the forest floor, where he was taken into custody.

He was evaluated by medics at the scene, then booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on charges stemming from the sheriff’s office investigation.