Milwaukee man again accused of impersonating peace officer

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 52-year-old Reinaldo Acosta of Milwaukee with impersonating a peace officer. Acosta faces two counts.

As to the first count, on May 10th, police received a report that a man, later identified as Acosta made another man withdraw money from an ATM machine and said if he did not do so, Acosta would turn him over to immigration officials.

The victim told police Acosta had shown up at his home, wearing a suit, and claiming to represent "Federal Police, Secret Immigration Police."

The complaint says Acosta asked for the man's wallet and identification, and the man provided Acosta with his Mexican Consulate identification card, after which Acosta said: "You look like a murderer," -- according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint says Acosta told the man eight black males who live below him had been arrested the night before, and had accused the man of selling drugs. Acosta told the man he was there to investigate.

The complaint says after asking for a check stub, the man told Acosta he did not have one. Acosta said he would return the next morning.

The next day, the complaint indicates the man provided the check stub, after which Acosta requested a check stub to determine whether they matched. Then, the two drove to a check cashing business, where the check was cashed in the amount of $950.

Then, the complaint indicates the two drove to the Police Administration Building, where Acosta told the man he would need $300 to pay a fine against the man. The two then went into the building, passed through metal detectors, and headed to a different area, where Acosta told the man he needed an additional $400.

Afterwards, the complaint says Acosta was hungry, and the two went to a restaurant, where the man reported Acosta paid the bill with what he believes was one of the $100 bills he had obtained from the man earlier that day.

Then, Acosta drove the man home -- saying: "I can take your children and give them to the city, and I can find you wherever you are," -- according to the complaint.

The complaint indicates Acosta returned to the man's home while the man was moving -- requesting his new address, according to the complaint. This time, the man asked for Acosta's name and badge, but Acosta said he could not provide it because he was "Private Federal Police" -- according to the complaint.

The complaint says Acosta then left, and never again had contact with the man involved in this incident.

That man was able to provide police with a license plate -- and it was discovered Acosta was on probation for Impersonating a Police Officer.

As to count two, on May 19th, Acosta is accused of knocking on the door of another man, and introducing himself as a "federal agent" -- claiming he was investigating a robbery, and that the suspect lived in this building, according to the complaint.

Again, Acosta is accused of taking the man's wallet, and taking money out of it, before taking out a notepad and writing down information, according to the complaint.

It was at this time that the man asked Acosta for his badge and identification, and Acosta ignored the question at first, and then said it was in his car, according to the complaint.

Then, Acosta grabbed the man's money, his Mexican Consulate identification card and got into his car, according to the complaint.

The man was shown a photo array and was able to positively identify Acosta as the man responsible.

When officials interviewed Acosta, he denied involvement in incidents involving impersonating a peace officer. He told officials he has nowhere to stay, so he keeps his suits in his vehicle.

Acosta told officials a drug cartel has been trying to recruit him, but he has refused the cartel and they are now making false accusations against him -- according to the complaint.

Acosta has previously been convicted of four counts of Impersonating a Peace Officer.