A South Florida man has been arrested in Puerto Rico following an investigation into a fabricated video believed to have been created using artificial intelligence as part of a false report made to a deputy with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office involving a marked patrol vehicle in Lake Mary.
On March 24, 2026, a Seminole County deputy was inside a retail store in Lake Mary when he was approached by a male subject who claimed he had observed multiple people entering the deputy’s marked patrol vehicle in the parking lot and presented a video on his cellphone as evidence.
The video, approximately three seconds in length, appeared to show two individuals entering the patrol vehicle parked near the store. The deputy immediately responded by checking his vehicle; however, he confirmed that nothing had been disturbed or stolen.
After reviewing store surveillance footage, investigators determined that no one approached the patrol vehicle during the timeframe described. Detectives later concluded the video provided to the deputy had been fabricated and that the reported incident did not occur.
During the investigation, detectives identified Alexis Martínez-Arizala (DOB: April 21, 2003) of Lake Worth as the individual who provided the fabricated video and false information to the deputy. Investigators also learned Martínez-Arizala posted content related to the encounter on his social media accounts in an apparent attempt to gain attention and create viral content.
A warrant for Martínez-Arizala’s arrest was signed on March 27, 2026. On April 8, 2026, Martínez-Arizala was located and arrested in San Juan by an officer assigned to the United States Marshals Service Task Force on the outstanding charges from Seminole County.
Martínez-Arizala faces the following charges for the Seminole County incident:
- Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, a felony, in violation of Florida Statutes Section 918.13
- Unlawful Use Of A Two-way Communication Device, a felony, and in violation of Florida Statutes Section 934.215
- False Report of a Crime to Law Enforcement, a misdemeanor, in violation of Florida Statutes Section 817.49
- Knowingly Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer Concerning the Alleged Commission of a Crime, a misdemeanor, in violation of Florida Statutes Section 837.05
“The misuse of artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos is a growing concern, particularly when it targets public safety professionals,” said Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma. “These fabricated videos can damage reputations, create unnecessary tensions, and raise real safety concerns for the first responders who serve our communities. As this technology becomes more accessible, we take these types of crimes seriously and will take action to protect those who are targeted in our community, including both private citizens and the public safety professionals who work every day to keep our residents safe.”
This investigation highlights the growing concerns surrounding the misuse of emerging technology and the impact false reports can have on law enforcement resources and community trust.
Seminole County Sheriff's Office
-
Bryan Beyer Community Relations Administrator
- April 08, 2026
- (407) 665-6748
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