A former lieutenant with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue department has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Manuel "Manny" Fernandez, aged 55, stands accused of secretly videotaping colleagues in the bathrooms of two fire stations, accumulating over 600 illicit recordings. Local 10 News initially broke the story, detailing the charges of video voyeurism that Fernandez now faces.
An investigation sprung into action on April 1, 2023, when a staff member at the MDFR’s Fire Station 69 discovered what appeared to be a normal wall charger plugged into a restroom outlet. This device, which was cleverly disguised as a phone charger, housed a deceptive camera. When the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deconstructed the charade, it revealed a micro-SD card replete with unauthorized video clips. These clips, spanning from February 11 to April 1 of the same year, depicted 18 unaware employees in a state of vulnerability – a violation of their most basic expectations of privacy, as reported by Local 10 News.
Further compounding the disturbing scenario, NBC Miami revealed that an additional recording device had been planted in the women's restroom at another station, Fire Station 66. It was through meticulous review of shift rosters that investigators tied Fernandez to the presence of the camera at each location, he being the sole intersection point – the only employee who worked at both fire stations on the days in question. NBC Miami's coverage also shared the tactful silence Fernandez maintained when approached by authorities at a recovery center, choosing not to make a statement without his attorney.
The internal response from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue department was swift. MDFR emphasized their commitment to transparency and employee well-being in a statement obtained by Local 10 News. Likewise, MDFR Department Chief Ray Jadallah issued a memo highlighting the seriousness of the incident and assuring that privacy of those involved would be prioritized in the ongoing investigation. Fernandez's bond, set at $27,500, has been posted, pending further legal proceedings, as reported by NBC Miami.
