In Mono County Court News, Nathan Baird, the man arrested after a dangerous and bizarre car chase on 395, was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Baird was arrested on December 10th after leading law enforcement officers on a chase down 395 in a stolen Ford Expedition. During the chase, officers reported that Baird had rammed a highway patrol vehicle and appeared to be laughing and dancing when officers made the arrest.

The morning prior to this incident, Mammoth Police reported that officers arrested Baird in the Tusk Bar at Main Lodge. Police say that reports indicated that Baird came into the bar, took off his clothes, laid down on a couch in front of a fire and went to sleep.

Baird had been charged with 2 counts of vehicle theft, reckless driving, felony evading, along with assault with a deadly weapon, in this case a car.

At the time of the arrest, highway patrol officers that we spoke suspected that Baird was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When blood test results came back, the DA’s office decided not to file DUI charges.

Deputy DA Kyle Graham reports that Baird pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The DA’s office did not dispute the plea that Graham described as appropriate.

Baird is still in custody and is scheduled to be committed to the Atascadero State Psychiatric Hospital for treatment and periodic re-evaluation until he regains his sanity. When asked if the length of the commitment to Atascadero is open ended, Graham explained that Baird is committed only for the length of time that the criminal charges would have carried, in this case 9 years maximum.

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