Miami Beach Man Charged With Impersonating Police Spokesman

MIAMI BEACH, FL — After Mayor Philip Levine, there's probably no more recognizable face in Miami Beach than police spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez. The personable officer is frequently seen on Miami television stations and quoted by Patch whenever there is a crime story involving the city — at least most crime stories. Rodriguez didn't handle Thursday's arrest of a man accused of impersonating him on social media.

Ernesto Orsetti of the 1800 block of Michigan Avenue in Miami Beach was charged with Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer, a third degree felony in Florida.

Police said the case was particularly "galling" since it involved such a recognizable persona within the department. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time free news alerts from Miami Beach Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

“The behavior here was outrageous. It threatened to damage the reputation of our superb Public Information Officer as well as the Miami Beach Police Department brand,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates. “We simply can’t tolerate such an impersonation, and I am glad Mr. Orsetti will now be held accountable.”

Orsetti allegedly created a fake Twitter account and used a photo of Rodriquez along with a background of a Miami Beach patrol car. The 48-year-old Orsetti allegedly engaged with local media, elected officials and the community as if he was PIO Rodriguez, officials said.

In one instance, Orsetti allegedly retweeted a post from Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez on Cuban national hero José Martí and tagged the Twitter handles of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Cuban embassy in Washington.

City officials said the impersonation occurred in January. Officers traced the phony account to Orsetti through his IP address.

To add insult to injury, Rodriguez is bald and there is no resemblance.

"In the photos I have seen, he looks nothing like Ernesto and is not bald," observed city spokeswoman Melissa Berthier.

The real Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department welcomes Swiss police officers on a 2016 visit to police headquarters.