A social media post from a police officer in Southern California—claiming he handcuffed his ex-girlfriend on Valentine’s Day—has garnered considerable attention. However, authorities indicate that was all part of the plan.
The Santa Maria Police Department shared a video on Facebook ahead of the holiday with a playful message: “Roses are red, violets are blue. There’s an ex-lover with a warrant, we’ll come get him.”
The clip features Officer Juan Robles, a motorcycle officer with a decade of service. In it, he unveils what looks like a large red box filled with chocolates; however, upon opening, only handcuffs are revealed.
Lieutenant Felix Diaz, who has served with the department for 18 years, expressed that the community’s reaction to the video was overwhelmingly positive and just what he anticipated. “This is a satire on Valentine’s Day,” he explained. “We also have individuals with warrants, and we’re ready to arrest them.”
Diaz described the effort as a means of community outreach, showing the human side of law enforcement. “It demonstrates that we’re capable of having a sense of humor, too,” he noted. This marks the first time Diaz has participated in such a themed initiative on Valentine’s Day, and he is pleased with the outcome.
Danielle Robles, Officer Robles’ wife, also posted the video, sharing her husband’s enthusiasm for the creative endeavor and noting, “my husband loves attention.”
Inspired by the Visalia Police Department’s similar approach last year, the Santa Maria Police decided to adopt a comparable strategy.
The post ignited a lively discussion online. One user commented, “Talk about a great ad! You caught my attention with the good-looking police officer. I really like the service you offer. Sold out!!!” Another added, “I had no idea the policeman had brought us gifts to open!”
Lt. Diaz commended his social media team for introducing the idea based on the video they found from Visalia PD.
