Suspect questioned in case of missing girl

SARASOTA, Fla. -- A drug felon was being questioned Wednesday in the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl who was apparently kidnapped while walking home from a friend's house, authorities said. The girl's whereabouts were not immediately known.

Joseph P. Smith, 37, has been in custody since Tuesday on unrelated charges that officials did not specify. His car, a Buick Century station wagon, was being combed by investigators for any clues in the disappearance of Carlie Brucia, whose apparent abduction Sunday evening was captured by a car wash surveillance camera.

"We have strong evidence that he is in fact the perpetrator," said Capt. Jeff Bell, the lead Sarasota County sheriff's investigator on the case.

Col. Terry Lewis called it an "ongoing, dynamic investigation." He said his investigative team will continue working through the night, but would not have further comment until a news briefing some time this morning.

Sheriff Bill Balkwill said investigators were led to Smith after a tip was phoned in by a citizen.

Meanwhile, a private investigator hired by the girl's family said late Wednesday that he had a "possible lead" to her whereabouts based on an anonymous tip.

"I've just contacted the family and given them that information. Carlie's stepfather is en route now to some type of crime scene," investigator Chuck Chambers said.

The family could not immediately be reached, but sheriff's deputies denied that any crime scene existed.

Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993, according to state records. He was arrested in 1997 by Manatee County officials on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but was acquitted a year later, records show.

Other arrests range from misdemeanor battery to felony drug possession charges, records show, with Smith placed on probation for cocaine possession last March.

Surveillance video footage of Brucia's apparent abduction showed a man in his late 20s or early 30s in a mechanic's shirt with a name patch on one lapel. Investigators said he also had tattoos on both forearms.

Smith has many tattoos on his body, including on both arms, officials said.

From the photos, Carlie did not appear to know him, and the girl's parents said they did not recognize him.

The FBI worked with a NASA image lab to enhance the images. Balkwill did not say whether those enhanced images helped lead them to Smith.

"I think it's helping them out quite a bit and giving them details they need to solve this case," said Armando Oliu, who is overseeing the image lab.

Friends from the girl's former Girl Scout troop took a day off from school Wednesday to pass out fliers at malls, canvass neighborhoods and distribute pink ribbons adorned with Carlie's name.

"I don't feel too good about this, knowing my best friend is out there with a stranger," said Tiffany Meeks.

Many people pulled up to the site of the abduction, rolled down the windows of their cars and asked deputies how they could help. Officials were creating "a database of volunteer support" to try to locate the girl.

The girl's father, Joe Brucia, looked exhausted when he appeared on national television Wednesday morning.

"I'm doing OK. I have to be for Carlie's sake," he said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I always have hope. I maintain that. I have to. I look forward to my daughter's safe return."