SACRAMENTO-
Sacramento Police arrested former Officer Gary Baker on suspicion of raping a 76-year-old woman while off duty, the department announced Thursday.
Police say the woman was assaulted Nov. 24, 2010 near 24th Street and South Manor Drive. Detectives collected DNA evidence at the scene, but no match was found. The rest of the investigation, however, was complicated because the woman had suffered a stroke, making it hard for her to communicate.
Investigators were still able get a description of the attacker.
The victim reported the same man attacking her again Sept. 20 of this year. Detectives were able to get more evidence. Police say Baker returned to the apartment a third time on Dec. 11 and attacked the woman again. Family members told detectives of possible surveillance video.
Police say investigators were able to recognize Baker, a 22-year veteran of the Sacramento Police Department, as the man in the footage. He was off duty during the alleged attacks.
Baker’s DNA and the DNA collected in 2010 and rushed it to the District Attorney’s Crime Lab. Detectives say the results matched and Baker was put on administrative leave as the investigation continued on.
Officers arrested Baker Thursday. He is charged with rape, two counts of forcible oral copulation, attempt to commit oral copulation, assault with intent to commit rape and sexual battery. Baker was booked into the Sacramento County Jail and is held on $1 million bail.
Sacramento Chief of Police Rick Braziel said, in a written statement, that the incident does not reflect the rest of his department.