GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A New York man who was wanted for allegedly impersonating an officer while robbing women at gunpoint at multiple Florida motels was arrested by Gwinnett County police at a motel near Duluth.
Michael Rodriguez, 27, was found with a fake badge along with handcuffs and a loaded weapon when he was arrested off Pleasant Hill Road, according to police.
Gwinnett police found him at the Sonesta Simply Suites hotel after getting a hit on a Flock camera as the stolen car pulled in.
Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson learned that Rodriguez was also wanted in Florida and New York.
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He was captured on camera in Florida wearing a fake badge during what Orlando police say was an armed robbery. He’s accused of targeting women at two different hotels by flashing the fake badge.
Police say he pepper sprayed two women before stealing from them in August in Lantana, Florida.
In Orlando, police say he handcuffed a woman and robbed her at gunpoint on Sept. 5.
Corporal Ryan Winderweedle with Gwinnett County police says Rodriguez did not go to jail quietly.
Body camera video of his arrest shows Rodriguez handcuffed in the back of the patrol car kicking the inside of the car.
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“He made some kind of reference to choking out the officer with his handcuffs,” Cpl. Winderweedle said.
Those comments led to a terroristic threats charge on top of the ones he already had.
He’s being held in the Gwinnett County Jail until he’s extradited to Florida.
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