Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy arrested after vigilante sting video shows belief he met a minor

Arrest follows confrontation at Delray Beach movie theater

A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office lieutenant was arrested in Palm Beach County after a confrontation captured on video at a Delray Beach movie theater, authorities confirmed Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. The arrest has intensified scrutiny of civilian-led “predator catcher” operations that stage online decoy interactions and then confront targets in public settings.

The lieutenant identified by law enforcement as Chris Diaz, 50, was taken into custody Friday night, Feb. 13, 2026, by Delray Beach police on a battery charge. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed Diaz’s employment with the agency and issued a statement condemning the alleged conduct involving an individual who was presented as a minor.

What the video shows and what has been alleged

The confrontation video was distributed online by a Delray Beach-based group known as 561 Predator Catchers. In the footage, Diaz is heard acknowledging he believed he was meeting a teenager for a date and describing messages exchanged beforehand. The video also includes an admission that he sent a sexual selfie to a user he believed was 15 years old, along with a remark that he had hoped the person was 18.

Authorities have not publicly released full investigative records detailing how the battery charge was established or whether additional criminal allegations are under review beyond the charge filed at arrest. The case remains in the early stages, and any further charging decisions would typically depend on investigative findings, digital evidence review, and prosecutorial screening.

Agency response and employment implications

In her statement, Sheriff Cordero-Stutz said she was “outraged” by the arrest and described the alleged behavior as unacceptable, framing it as a breach of public trust and the duty to protect children. The sheriff’s office did not announce specific administrative actions in the immediate aftermath, but law enforcement agencies commonly place personnel on restricted duty or administrative leave while criminal matters proceed.

Broader context: civilian sting groups and criminal cases

Florida has seen a growing number of cases tied to civilian “predator catcher” groups that pose online as minors, arrange meetings, and then alert law enforcement after confrontations. These operations can generate leads and digital material that police later evaluate, but they also raise practical and legal questions that can become central in court, including how evidence was collected, how interactions were initiated, and whether statements were made voluntarily during confrontations.

• Location and timeline: Delray Beach confrontation; arrest Friday night, Feb. 13, 2026; agency confirmation and public statement Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

• Charge at arrest: battery, filed by Delray Beach police.

• Key evidentiary element publicized: a video showing Diaz discussing the purported minor’s age and prior messaging.

The criminal case will proceed in the Palm Beach County system, where prosecutors will determine whether the current charge is amended or supplemented as the investigation develops.