Detective testifies in his own defense at robbery trial

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002 | 8:49 a.m.

Former Metro Police detective and robbery suspect Jack Brandon told jurors Tuesday he was so rattled by being arrested he simply failed to give detectives crucial details of his activities the morning of the crime.

"(I was thinking) I'm being accused of a crime I didn't commit. My career's on the line, my kids, my family. What's going to happen next?" Brandon said. "I didn't know what was going on."

Prosecutors allege that Brandon is a problem gambler who became desperate enough to disguise his face with bandages and rob United Coin employees at Rae's Lounge in Henderson on Feb. 22.

The 14-year Metro veteran was linked to the crime after the license plate on the alleged getaway car was traced back to Brandon's police-issued Ford Taurus.

A Global Positioning System device placed on Brandon's car by authorities investigating large banking transactions also showed Brandon was in the area at the time of the robbery.

While Brandon testified Tuesday he was in Rae's parking lot looking for a woman from whom he hoped to purchase an amethyst necklace, he acknowledged he failed to mention that to a half-dozen detectives assigned to his case.

Brandon testified, however, that he had also looked for the woman the day prior to the robbery and the GPS device corroborates his whereabouts.

As for the allegation he had been "casing" Rae's exactly a week prior to the robbery, Brandon said he was in the area to meet a confidential informant.

The informant, who claimed to have information about pickpockets working the Strip, never showed up, Brandon said.

While acknowledging that he had withdrawn funds from a retirement account and obtained thousands of dollars in cash advances from his credit cards prior to the robbery, Brandon denied being desperate for money.

He said he had every intention of repaying the $9,000 he had taken from his fiancee without her knowledge, Brandon said.

Brandon testified he was paid on the day of the robbery and was expecting a child support payment. Moreover, he said, his fiancee had $14,000 in the bank and good friends of his own two local casinos.

"I don't believe there's anytime that I would be desperate," Brandon said.

Had he robbed Rae's, Brandon said he would have worn a Halloween mask and stolen money bags rather than the coin canisters taken in February.

Brandon insisted it was just a coincidence that he is the same height as the robber, was wearing similar clothing, has the same dark hair and mustache and was in the area at the precise moment of the robbery.

The former cop also said it was a coincidence that he was parked near the same spot as the robber and left in the same direction the robber did as well.

When asked if he was wearing a ball cap that morning -- just as robbery victim Todd Zukowski said the robber was -- Brandon didn't answer directly.

He questioned how Zukowski could see through the getaway car's tinted windows.

"So, Todd's right about everything except the one thing that makes you guilty, right?" Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas asked.

District Judge Donald Mosley upheld defense attorney Steve Stein's immediate objection to the question.