Man posing as officer breaks into Orlando hotel room, robs woman at gunpoint: police

A man wearing a fake badge forced his way into a woman’s hotel room in Orlando, Florida, and robbed her at gunpoint, police said.

Authorities were called to a hotel along a busy, resort-filled stretch of the Sunshine State on Aug. 23, according to a statement from the Orlando Police Department.

A woman told police that an unknown man, wearing a “badge” around his neck, pretended to be a police officer and forced his way into her room. The victim told police the suspect handcuffed her and stole her wallet while showing what appeared to be a handgun in her waistband.

The woman’s account was corroborated by hotel surveillance footage, which showed the suspect’s arrival on the hotel floor and a close-up of his fake badge.

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Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez was seen at an Orlando hotel on surveillance video. (Orlando Police Department)

Through surveillance footage, police identified Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez, 27, as the suspect.

Authorities said this was not Rodriguez’s first stunt, with the 27-year-old having committed similar robberies at a Days Inn in Miami Springs and Lantana, Florida.

The alleged badge that Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez allegedly used to impersonate a police officer. (Orlando Police Department)

Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez allegedly used a handgun and handcuffs to rob a woman at an Orlando resort. (Orlando Police Department)

On September 8, 2024, the Gwinnett County, Georgia Police Department apprehended Rodriguez while he was driving the same vehicle related to the Orlando and Lantana incidents.

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Orlando detectives traveled to Georgia to search the suspect’s vehicles and recovered a fake police badge, handcuffs and additional evidence related to both cases.

Michael Darren Jesse Rodriguez faces charges including impersonating an officer to commit a felony with a weapon, false imprisonment with a weapon and robbery with a firearm. (Orlando Police Department)

Orlando police obtained an arrest warrant for Rodriguez and he was arrested on October 2.

Rodriguez was charged with impersonating an officer to commit a felony with a weapon, false imprisonment with a weapon and robbery with a firearm.

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Orlando police urged any other potential victims of Rodriguez to contact law enforcement at 800-423-TIPS (8477).

Fox News Digital has contacted the Orlando Police Department for comment.