SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Lake Worth Beach man was arrested in Puerto Rico after investigators determined he used an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake video to file a false crime report with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, authorities announced Wednesday.
Investigators said the incident began on March 24, when a Seminole County deputy was inside a retail store in Lake Mary and was approached by a man who claimed he had seen several people entering the deputy’s marked patrol vehicle in the parking lot. The man showed the deputy a short video on his cellphone that appeared to depict two individuals getting into the patrol vehicle.
The deputy immediately went outside to check the vehicle but found no indication that it had been disturbed or that anything was missing. A review of store surveillance footage later showed that no one approached the patrol vehicle during the time frame described by the man.
Detectives subsequently determined the three-second video presented to the deputy was fabricated and that the alleged incident never occurred. Investigators identified the individual who provided the video as Alexis Martínez-Arizala, 22, of Lake Worth Beach.
A man, 22 years old at the time of the incident after being born April 21, 2003, was arrested after investigators say he used an AI‑generated deepfake video to falsely report a crime involving a marked Seminole County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. (Seminole County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Martínez-Arizala also posted content related to the encounter on social media, apparently in an effort to draw attention and generate viral engagement.
A warrant for Martínez-Arizala’s arrest was issued on March 27. On April 8, he was located and arrested in San Juan, Puerto Rico, by an officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force on the outstanding Seminole County charges, according to the news release.
Martínez-Arizala is charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a felony, and two misdemeanors: false report of a crime to law enforcement and knowingly giving false information to a law enforcement officer regarding the alleged commission of a crime. Upon extradition to Seminole County, he is expected to be held on a $7,000 bond.
See also: ‘Spring Cleaning’: Indian River sheriff announces results of major narcotics operations
Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma said the case underscores the growing challenges posed by the misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly when used to target public safety professionals.
“These fabricated videos can damage reputations, create unnecessary tensions, and raise real safety concerns for the first responders who serve our communities,” Lemma said. “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.”
Officials said the investigation highlights broader concerns about emerging technology, false reporting, and the strain such incidents can place on law enforcement resources and public trust.
