DORAL, Fla. – A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue lieutenant has been arrested after investigators say he secretly recorded coworkers in fire station bathrooms using a hidden camera disguised as a phone charger over two years ago.
Authorities said Manuel Fernandez, 55, was taken into custody on Monday. Jail records show he is facing 11 counts of video voyeurism.
MDFR officials confirmed the arrest in a statement Tuesday, noting the employee is no longer with the department.
“Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is aware of the arrest of a former employee. The individual was a firefighter who is no longer employed with the department,” the agency wrote. “MDFR fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout their investigation, which led to the arrest of the former employee.”
The case began on April 1, 2023, when an employee discovered a “suspicious” wall charger plugged into an outlet in the men’s bathroom at MDFR’s Fire Station 69, located at 11151 NW 74th St. in Doral.
Investigators said the device turned out to be a covert video camera, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to investigate.
They said the hidden camera contained a micro-SD card with more than 600 video clips.
The recordings, which spanned from February 11 to April 1, 2023, depicted 18 employees — both men and women — using the restroom, according to the warrant.
Authorities confirmed that at least 11 victims have been positively identified so far.
“These employees had a reasonable expectation of privacy,” the warrant stated. “They were recorded in their most vulnerable state, within their sanctuary, where they had (an) absolute expectation of privacy.”
Investigators later determined the same device had also been used in the women’s bathroom at MDFR’s Fire Station 66 in Homestead on March 12.
After reviewing shift rosters, detectives found Fernandez was the only employee working at both stations on the days the camera was active.
One video clip, that deputies say was recorded on February 20, 2023, reportedly showed a man adjusting the hidden camera while wearing a MDFR uniform and a silver watch on his left wrist.
Detectives say Fernandez was seen wearing a similar watch during an April 24 meeting with investigators at a recovery center in Hollywood.
They say he declined to speak without an attorney present after turning himself in at MDSO’s headquarters.
MDFR Department Chief Ray Jadallah also sent an internal memo to staff Tuesday that said in part:
“Due to the egregious nature of the incident, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office was called in to conduct a thorough investigation. Given the sensitive nature of this process, the investigation will be conducted by MDSO in a manner that will protect the privacy of those involved to the greatest extent possible.”
As of Tuesday, Fernandez is being held on a $27,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Investigators said more charges could still be filed as the case develops. Local 10 News is working to learn when Fernandez was fired.
