A former Monroe County sheriff’s deputy was briefly behind bars in Florida, as prosecutors alleged he used official police databases to stalk an Apple TV+ Bad Monkey extra. He met her by chance working as a security guard on set when the series filmed in the area.
Bad Monkey, set in the Florida Keys, is an Apple TV+ black comedy‑crime series starring Vince Vaughn. The series was shooting scenes in Big Pine Key, Florida, when former Deputy Lamar Eliseo Roman, assigned as security on Feb. 3, 2026, noticed a group of extras arriving by bus, according to local news outlet WPLG.
According to law enforcement, Roman “began whistling” and loudly cat‑calling the woman as she stepped off the bus.
Despite the woman telling him she had a boyfriend, the pair exchanged names and phone numbers after she got off set. Roman, 28, allegedly told the extra, “I need your name and number just in case I pull you over someday.” He later sent her a direct message on Instagram, which went unanswered.
The database access
Prosecutors allege Roman then improperly accessed Florida’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID) and the Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center (FCIC/NCIC) — confidential law enforcement systems — to obtain personal details about the woman.
On Feb. 19, license plate readers showed the woman’s vehicle on Florida’s U.S. 1, and Roman — while on patrol — sped up to about 70 mph and passed multiple vehicles in a no‑passing zone as he chased her.
According to investigators, his dangerous driving “almost caused a head‑on collision” when a truck had to veer off the road to avoid him. Roman then pulled the woman over beside Bobalu’s Southern Café on Big Coppitt Key.
During the unlogged traffic stop, the woman told authorities she felt “uncomfortable” after Roman made provocative comments, including, “Oh, I thought you had a boyfriend.”
When asked how he knew it was her, Roman allegedly responded, “I told you I’d find you and pull you over,” adding, “I was hoping your boyfriend was in the car,” so he could pull him out, “and give him a hard time.”
“I saw a shiny thing”
When investigators confronted Roman, he admitted to using law enforcement databases outside his official duties. He reportedly tried to downplay the incident, saying he knew the traffic stop and pursuit were ill‑advised and attributing his actions to having “a tough month.” He described the woman dismissively as “a shiny thing” who was “teasing” him and said, “Yeah, I know it’s stupid,” when asked why he followed her that day.
Shortly after the incident came to light, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office fired Roman. Authorities arrested him on a felony charge of misuse of law‑enforcement computers, computer networks, and electronic devices. Roman was booked into jail with an arraignment scheduled in a Florida Keys courtroom later in March. Records indicate he was released on bond, though details of the bond were not immediately available in local reports.
The woman involved declined to press charges, but the sheriff’s office proceeded with the case, citing misuse of official systems. As of mid‑March 2026, Roman’s legal matter remains active, with court proceedings pending and no reported plea entered.
Published: Mar 13, 2026 04:29 pm