TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man accused of posing as a woman to drug and sexually assault victims has been released from jail after being declared incompetent to proceed with a trial.
Derrick Deshawn Baker, 23, was facing multiple charges related to burglary, battery, and theft after his arrest in May.
On Dec. 3, Baker was released from jail and into the custody of the Department of Children and Families after he was found incompetent to proceed with a trial.
According to court documents, a doctor found that Baker suffers from "a major mental illness" and is in need of treatment.
Though documents state that there's a risk Baker could harm someone or himself, there's a "substantial probability that the mental illness causing [Baker's] incompetence will respond to treatment and the defendant will regain competency to precede in the reasonably foreseeable future."
Based on the doctor's findings, Baker was committed to the Department of Children and Families to be placed in a mental health treatment facility.
Man accused of posing as woman in sexual batteries connected to multiple Tallahassee burglaries, assaults
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man accused of posing as a woman to drug and sexually assault victims is facing 15 additional charges related to burglary and assault.
Derrick Deshawn Baker, 23, is facing multiple charges related to burglary, battery, and theft nearly a month after his arrest in May.
According to court documents, police were able to connect Baker to five break-ins in the Tallahassee area.
Police say they were able to compare Baker's fingerprints to the prints found during the burglaries. The prints came out as a match.
Documents also note that through a search of Baker's home, they were able to find stolen property, to include a stolen shotgun and Xbox One, as well as a blonde wig victims noted Baker was wearing during the thefts.
Victims told police Baker also stole money, credit cards, and knives.
In each incident, victims told police that Baker had crept into their homes, oftentimes being spotted by the victims. When spotted, Baker often responded that he was looking for "Chris" and when he was told no one of that name lived there, he'd claim to be "lost and drunk."
During one incident, documents say Baker say on the end of a victim's bed to have a conversation, saying he was "invited" to his room. In another set of incidents, Baker attempted to grab the victims' genitals after being caught burglarizing their homes.
As a result of the investigation, Baker is facing the following charges:
- Burglary with assault (x3)
- Armed burglary (x1)
- Grand theft $100 to under $300 (x2)
- Grand theft $300 or more but less than $5000 (x1)
- Battery (x2)
- Burglary of a dwelling (x4)
- Petit theft (x2)
- Grand theft of a firearm (x1)
Baker was arrested back in late May for sexual assault. He remains in jail on a $377,750 bond.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been arrested, accused of sexually battering, and possibly drugging, a victim while posing as a woman.
Derrick Deshawn Baker, 23, was arrested on two counts of sexual assault.
The Tallahassee Police Department says they were notified about a sexual battery on Thursday. According to police, the victim, believing Baker to be a woman, went to his residence to hang out.
While there, the victim says Baker served several alcoholic beverages believed to spiked with drugs and sexually battered the victim.
The next day, police obtained a warrant to search Baker's home and recovered items from the sexual battery, a stolen shotgun and a stolen game console. TPD says the items were connected to other burglaries in the city.
Police are also seeking warrants for his involvement in the burglaries.
TPD is also investigating other instances of Baker’s involvement in reported sexual batteries, as well as reports of burglaries where a male, dressed as a woman, burglarized homes and battered male victims.
Police say Baker is also known to dress as a woman and approach intoxicated males, while seeking sexual activity. They have released pictures of Baker dressed as a woman, "in the event that other victims that wish to come forward are not able to recognize him dressed as a male."
This is an ongoing investigation and TPD will provide updates when they become available.
TPD Special Victims Unit Investigators are asking anyone with information about this case, or those who may have also been a victim to please call them at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.
