Man who allegedly posed as cop pleads not guilty

A man who allegedly robbed three people at gunpoint at a Desert Hot Springs home while posing as a police officer conducting a search of the residence pleaded not guilty today to robbery and burglary charges.

Michael Jacob Brooks, 49, of Susanville is accused of robbing three people inside a Desert Hot Springs home at 3:23 a.m. May 30, 2013, and taking about $8,000 worth of cash, jewelry and other items in the process.

Police say Brooks and another unidentified man showed up at the home armed and in suits, “dressed to appear to be police detectives and were acting as if they were serving a search warrant at the residence,” an arrest warrant declaration states.

While acting under the guise of serving the warrant, Brooks and the other man allegedly had the victims lie on the floor and then ransacked the house for valuables. The suspects allegedly pointed handguns at the victims and threatened to kick them in the head during the robbery, the declaration states.

Brooks and the other man then allegedly stole one of the victim’s cars and left.

Brooks, who has convictions in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties for crimes that include burglary, identity theft and forgery, was identified in the Desert Hot Springs case through his fingerprints, which were found at the residence. He was also allegedly captured on surveillance footage from within the home, according to the declaration. Information regarding the second suspect was unavailable.

Brooks is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail and is slated to return to court September 15 for a felony settlement conference.