Two men once entrusted with safeguarding the public in Miami-Dade County are now facing serious criminal charges in separate cases.
Omar Fernandez, 50, a division chief with Miami-Dade Corrections, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly crashing into a woman’s car while driving his state-issued vehicle under the influence. The crash occurred Sunday night at the intersection of Southwest 88th Street and Mills Drive in Kendall. The woman’s teenage son was reportedly asleep in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
According to the arrest report, Fernandez was found by troopers asleep at the wheel, slurring his words and incoherent. He reportedly failed every aspect of a field sobriety test and registered blood alcohol levels of .236 and .231 — nearly three times the legal limit.
Fernandez has been removed from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a separate case across the county, 53-year-old Manuel Fernandez, a former Miami-Dade Fire Rescue lieutenant, was charged with 11 counts of video voyeurism after authorities say he secretly recorded coworkers in employee-only bathrooms at two fire stations.
Investigators say a hidden camera disguised as a wall charger was discovered at Station 69 and Station 66 between February and April 2023. A memory card recovered from the device reportedly contained more than 600 video clips showing both male and female firefighters in compromising and private situations.
According to the arrest report, Fernandez allegedly filmed at least 18 individuals without their knowledge or consent. Eleven of the victims have been positively identified. A review of shift records indicated Fernandez was the only employee working at both locations during the times the hidden camera was in use.
As of Wednesday morning, Fernandez has been fired from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
Both investigations remain ongoing.
