Florida man arrested for showing deepfake AI video of people breaking into police car to a cop; held on $7,000 bond

A Florida man has been arrested after trying to trick a police officer with a fake AI-generated video showing a break-in at a patrol car.Authorities say 25-year-old Alexis Martínez-Arizala approached a deputy inside an Academy Sports store in Lake Mary and claimed that several people were breaking into the officer’s marked vehicle outside.To support his claim, he showed a short video on his phone that appeared to show suspects entering the patrol car. However, when the deputy rushed outside to check, there was no sign of any damage or theft.According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, investigators later reviewed store surveillance footage and confirmed that no one had gone near the vehicle. The video was determined to be an AI-generated deepfake created to stage the incident.The false claim still triggered a real emergency response, with the deputy treating the situation as an active break-in.Police said Martínez-Arizala created the video in an attempt to gain attention online. He has around 220,000 followers on TikTok and regularly posts content involving AI-based pranks. He had uploaded at least two similar videos targeting police officers earlier.He was later tracked down and arrested in Puerto Rico. Authorities said he is expected to be extradited back to Seminole County, where he will be held on a $7,000 bond.He now faces multiple charges, including fabricating evidence, making a false report to law enforcement, and providing false information about a crime.Sheriff Dennis Lemma said this is a blatant misuse of artificial intelligence: “The misuse of artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos is a growing concern, particularly when it targets public safety professionals.”He added, “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.”In Canada, YouTuber Fique Ayub was arrested after shouting “gun” in a crowded cinema, while TikToker Heston James is facing up to nine years in prison over a series of disruptive pranks in Arizona.