The authorities arrested a young man in San Juan accused of making false reports about crimes using videos manipulated with artificial intelligence (AI).
The arrest was carried out by agents of the United States Marshals Service (US Marshals) and the San Juan Municipal Policereported the mayor Miguel Romero in written statements.
The official identified the subject as Alexis J. Martínez Arizala, 22 years old.
Romero indicated that Martínez Arizala was intervened in the Barrio Obrero area, as part of an operation carried out by municipal agents in coordination with federal marshals.
According to preliminary information, Martínez Arizala allegedly approached an agent of the San Juan Municipal Police who was in a fast food restaurant in Santurce on April 6, and showed him a video altered by artificial intelligence in which it appeared that another person had stolen his patrol car.
According to the statement, the police officer reacted immediately to what he understood to be a real situation. Later, Martínez Arizala told him that it was an alleged joke. He recorded the entire situation on video and posted it on social media.
“It is important that citizens understand that our agents are trained to respond quickly, but also with judgment and control. A situation like this could have had greater consequences if it were not for the preparation of our police officers. This type of behavior cannot be taken lightly,” he said. Juan Jackson Rodriguezcommissioner of the San Juan Municipal Police, in written statements.
Martínez Arizala and the other subject allegedly dedicate themselves to publishing confrontations with police and civilians around the United States on social networks that they provoke through altered videos.
Some of the incidents, presented as pranks, consist of showing videos produced using artificial intelligence making it appear that someone is driving or otherwise manipulating a vehicle without authorization. In this way, they seek to provoke reactions from agents or citizens.
In other publications on social networks, they have captured and manipulated, with AI tools, images of people, without their authorization, that show them performing actions that are not real. Some people have reacted violently.
The reason why the Marshals Service carried out the operation was because there is an arrest warrant against Martínez Arizala in the state of Florida for a similar case.
The charges allege tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, false reporting to a law enforcement officer, and providing false information regarding the alleged commission of a crime.
After receiving notification, municipal agents, together with federal marshals, located and arrested Martínez Arizala, who was staying in short-term lodging in the Barrio Obrero area.
Romero reported that Martínez Arizala will remain in custody while consulting with the San Juan Prosecutor’s Office the possible formulation of charges at the state level. Subsequently, Martínez Arizala will be extradited to the state of Florida.
“We will continue to act firmly and responsibly in each intervention. Our priority is to protect citizens, support our agents and continue to demonstrate with actions that in San Juan there is a government that responds and is present,” said the mayor.