St. Petersburg police: Man accused of raping disabled 17-year-old girl

ST. PETERSBURG — A 25-year-old man was arrested early Wednesday after he was accused of raping a mentally disabled 17-year-old girl who was walking home.

Israel Brown, who is homeless, confronted the woman as she was making her way back to her residence from the Mirror Lake area, where she had been reading on Jan. 19, police say. Brown and the girl, whom the Times is not naming due to the nature of the crime, were acquaintances.

At about 3:15 p.m., Brown started making small talk and then began following her.

In the area of 510 5th Street N, police say Brown pulled her into an alley and raped her.

The incident came to police's attention after the girl confided in some friends who then told her counselor. The counselor then told police.

Brown was arrested just before 1 a.m. Wednesday and faces a charge of sexual battery. He was being held on $100,000 bail.