Scandal-plagued former Florida police chief arrested on grand theft charges

Former Hialeah Police chief Sergio Velázquez has been arrested on a battery of fraud and theft charges, 7 News Miami reported on Monday morning.

61-year-old Velázquez, who served from 2012 to 2021 has been working as an electrician since leaving the department, "was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Monday and faces charges of money laundering and evading registration reports involving more than $100,000, organized fraud exceeding $50,000, and first-degree grand theft involving more than $100,000," said the report.

Hialeah, a South Florida community in the Miami metropolitan area, is well known as one of the most heavily-Hispanic cities in the United States, with more than 80 percent of the population being of Cuban descent.

According to Caribbean National Weekly, even before the lengthy investigation into the fraud allegations, Velázquez had a history of scandals and misconduct allegations against him in the police force.

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One of those allegations "involved Velázquez reportedly entering a romantic relationship with a woman he met at the station after she was arrested for driving under the influence," said that report. Additionally, Velázquez faced "an 18-month investigation by the [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] for a 'pattern of criminal misconduct,'" which involved an accusation that he "set fire to the car of a man whose former partner was dating Velázquez" — although that investigation concluded without charges.

"Undoubtedly, this marks a sad moment for our city," said Hialeah Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves. "Today, as the mayor of the second safest city in the entire state of Florida, I want to reaffirm our complete confidence in the leadership and integrity of the current Hialeah Police Chief, George Fuente, who continues to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and peace of mind of all our residents."

"We remain focused on continuing to strengthen our institutions and move forward towards a future based on transparency, accountability, and exemplary public service," she continued.