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Police arrest rape suspect after tips from public
By MIKE BRASSFIELD © St. Petersburg Times, published January 6, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- Three days before Christmas, a 16-year-old girl was repeatedly raped on the Pinellas Trail by a tall, thin teenager with a knife. On the rapist's right arm, the girl saw a tattoo of a baby's face and a name that looked like "Justin" or "Dustin." On Friday morning, police woke up a tall, thin 18-year-old at his home and took him to the police station. On his right arm was a tattoo of his infant son and the baby's name: Austin. Joseph Brett Baker of 6250 Seventh Ave. S in Gulfport was arrested Friday on a charge of capital sexual battery. If convicted, he could get life in prison because he used a weapon in the rape. Tips from the public led detectives to Baker after police put out a sketch and description of the rapist, based on what the 16-year-old girl told them. Within hours after the drawing appeared in news reports Thursday, investigators got a call from someone who recalled Baker showing off his new tattoo last month. The caller also knew where Baker lived. "We're very grateful to the media and the public for this one," said St. Petersburg police Detective Richard Roseberry. The girl was raped the evening of Dec. 22 in a secluded area next to the Pinellas Trail just east of 62nd Street S, not far from Baker's home. The girl was looking for her dog about 5:45 p.m. She walked up to a teenager and asked if he'd seen her dog. He said he had and he'd show her where. She followed him to an isolated spot, where he pulled a knife, threatened to kill her and raped her several times. By Friday afternoon, Baker was being held without bail in the Pinellas County Jail. At one time, Baker attended Boca Ciega High School. He apparently was no longer attending classes there, police said. Baker, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 155 pounds, is also on probation, according to court records. Last year, someone went to court and got an injunction for protection from him. Baker was arrested in August for violating the injunction, and he pleaded no contest Nov. 17. Previously, when Baker was a juvenile, he was charged with three auto burglaries, one in 1999 and two in 1997, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Rick Stelljes.
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