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Lamar Eliseo Roman (Monroe County Jail).
A police officer from Florida has been dismissed and apprehended following accusations of using law enforcement databases to pursue a woman he encountered on the set of the television show “Bad Monkey.”
Deputy Lamar Eliseo Roman, 28, from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, was taken into custody on Tuesday. He faces charges related to the improper use of law enforcement computers, networks, and electronic devices. Roman, who served in the Florida Keys for under a year, was terminated from his position, as stated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The allegations suggest Roman accessed these databases for personal motives, which fell outside the legitimate duties of his role as a deputy.
“I am determined to keep this community informed about important occurrences within this agency — both positive and negative,” stated Sheriff Rick Ramsay in an official release.
According to information acquired by local ABC affiliate WPLG, Roman was assigned to security duties last month on the set of the Apple TV series “Bad Monkey,” which features Vince Vaughn. When a group of extras exited a bus, Roman reportedly took a particular interest in one woman, allegedly engaging in behavior such as whistling and making cat-calling remarks.
“Oh my god, why didn’t nobody tell me we were bringing models to set?” Roman allegedly said, “very loudly.”
The two exchanged numbers, but she did not respond to an Instagram message he sent her, WPLG reported. He allegedly “stated something along the lines of, ‘I need your name and number just in case I pull you over someday.’”
But the situation allegedly crossed the threshold of mostly harmless flirting to illegal acts when he reportedly looked her up on Florida’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database and Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center. Those databases are for legitimate law enforcement purposes only. He also allegedly placed her license plate on a “hotlist,” which would alert him when license plate readers picked it up.
An alert on the license plate pinged on Feb. 19 when Roman was on duty. Per the report, the deputy sped upward of 70 mph and passed three vehicles — forcing a truck to veer out of the way — until he caught up to her and pulled her over.
The woman reportedly later told cops she felt uncomfortable because of his comments, such as “Oh, I thought you had a boyfriend.” She also felt unnerved that he was able to find her, authorities said.
“I told you I’d find you and pull you over,” he reportedly responded. “And I was hoping your boyfriend was in the car so I can pull him out and give him a hard time.”
Roman admitted to his actions during an interview with investigators, saying, “I know it’s stupid.”
“I just apologize for you guys to have to do this you know. That’s it. I mean, it’s a tough month and I saw a shiny thing and teasing and all that and I knew that when I put that I’m like ‘f—,’ and that’s why I just like I stopped right after and nothing else,” he told investigators, per WPLG.
Roman was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail, where he has since bonded out. His next court date is scheduled for March 26.