A 60-year-old Florida man attempted to steal a Chevrolet Corvette at the Hard Rock Hollywood by attempting to impersonate a police officer. Unfortunately for him, the valet on shift recognized the ruse and cried for help when actual police turned up shortly after.
At around 3:30 pm EST, the suspect, Angel Emilio Diez, 60, of Miami Gardens, approached valet workers and said that he was a police officer and needed to confiscate a vehicle. He did not wait for permission but jumped into the Chevrolet Corvette and sped off before the confused valet workers.
Culprit Allegedly Impersonated a Law Enforcement Officer, Tampered with Evidence
However, the staff quickly notified police, with officers present in the valet parking lot, and in action. Diez was trying to exit the parking lot, but the police were quicker, with a car swiftly parked at the entrance and blocking his escape.
Diez also reportedly had a polo shirt with Florida Department of Corrections insignias – bought from a thrift store and denied that he had tried to impersonate law enforcement. However, prosecutors in Broward County quickly brought Diez on several charges, including impersonating a law enforcement officer.
He was also charged with grand theft auto, trespassing, and tampering with physical evidence. As it turns out, Diez was in fact banned from the property for life. He also tried to conceal the marijuana, which he had on his person during the arrest, which brought the tampering charge.
Wanted for Other Crimes in the Past
Diez’s arrest is fortunate, as he was already wanted on a warrant stemming from a 2023 crime, which he subsequently failed to show up for in court. Diez is now unlikely to escape prison time, as the charges are enough to put him behind bars for at least five years.
He will, however, face what is probably a much longer sentence given his previous noncompliance and long rap sheet. Diez never gave a clear explanation of how he ended up in the vehicle, but insisted that he hadn’t been trying to steal it. With surveillance footage and witnesses’ accounts readily available, this claim is unlikely to hold in court.