Ex-LAPD detective and convicted rapist rearrested in 1994 cold case
Ex-LAPD detective accused of kidnapping, robbery
On Thursday, officials announced Michael Douglas Brambles, a former LAPD detective and convicted rapist, is accused of kidnapping for robbery of a Thousand Oaks business owner in 1994.
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - Southern California authorities announced a former Los Angeles Police Department detective and convicted rapist, who was paroled in 2020, was re-arrested in Santa Barbara County.
What we know:
In 1996, former LAPD detective Michael Douglas Brambles was sentenced in Los Angeles County to approximately 102 years in prison for a series of violent robberies and sexual assaults involving at least 14 victims, primarily in the San Fernando Valley.
Brambles served 25 years.
However, in 2020, the then 60-year-old applied for and was granted parole under a California elderly parole law. At his parole hearing, Brambles denied committing any sexual assault offenses beyond those for which he was convicted in LA County.
Ventura County detectives recently discovered Brambles had been paroled while testing evidence as part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), a federally funded program reviewing cold-case evidence. This evidence linked Brambles to a 1994 crime at a gift shop where a clerk, going by her initials SW, was victimized during a break-in and armed robbery.
Due to the statute of limitations, authorities cannot charge Brambles with sexual assault in the 1994 case, but they have arrested him on charges of burglary and robbery. Brambles is currently held in Santa Barbara County on $2 million bail.
Dig deeper:
Brambles was one of the detectives who arrested Eagles singer, Don Henley.
What they're saying:
"We could not charge Brambles with the sexual assault due to the statute of limitations. But evidence collected from the crime scene 32 years ago was instrumental in identifying SW's alleged attacker and bringing us to today's arrest and prosecution," Ventura County DA Erik Nasarenko said.
"I am thankful to have this opportunity to now seek justice for myself and for his other victims. I am here on behalf of other victims of sexual assault to let them know that they are not alone. And that day matters," the victim added.
What you can do:
Officials are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact law enforcement.
Are you or someone you know a recent survivor of sexual assault? Help is available. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides a 24/7 national sexual assault hotline, which can be reached at 1-800-656-4673
The Source: This report is based on live coverage, court proceedings, and official statements from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office and local law enforcement following a press briefing. Information regarding Michael Douglas Brambles' prior convictions, parole history, and cold-case DNA evidence was verified using court records and public statements provided by authorities and the victim during the announcement.