Man accused of impersonating police officer in Deerfield Beach burglary attempt

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – A man accused of impersonating a police officer to force his way inside a Deerfield Beach home and attack another man who lived there has been arrested, as well as the woman accused of helping him in his bungled burglary attempt.

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives said Robert Rosamelia knocked on the man's door late Wednesday night, claimed to be a Deerfield Beach police officer and presented a Pennsylvania corrections badge. Once inside, detectives said, Rosamelia accused the man of having drugs in his home and told him he was going to arrest him.

Instead, Rosamelia pulled out a roll of duct tape and began to bind the man's hands together, detectives said.

Rosamelia then took out a can of pepper spray, sprayed the man in the face and hit him with a wooden baton, causing a laceration to his head, detectives said.

The man fought with Rosamelia, who fled the apartment, but neighbors heard the yelling and watched a woman run through the complex's parking lot, throwing something into some hedges before getting into a car where Rosamelia was waiting, detectives said.

Deputies said they stopped Rosamelia and Michelle Gaudette in their car a short time later.

Both admitted being there to see the man, but they denied any altercation took place. However, a search of the car revealed a roll of duct tape, a black skull cap, a pair of black gloves, pepper spray, a wallet with a badge and a bed sheet with blood on it, detectives said.

Investigators said they found the wooden baton used to beat the man in the hedges.

Rosamelia is facing charges of burglary, battery, impersonating a law enforcement officer, petit theft and false imprisonment. Gaudette is facing charges of burglary, battery and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

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