YouTuber Ray Diaz was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on Friday morning in San Diego, California.
The arrest follows the release of a video from fellow YouTuber Keemstar, in which the gossip show host accuses Diaz of sexually, emotionally, and physically abusing a minor during their year-long relationship. Keemstar included an interview with Angelica Salek, who was 16 years old at the start of the alleged relationship. The now 17-year-old detailed the alleged abuse she experienced at the hands of Diaz, a 33-year-old who has over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube.
“I was mentally abused and physically abused by this guy. Something needs to happen here. I hope and pray something does,” she said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufYkpHgQdM4
Keemstar titled his video, “LAPD ARREST him NOW!” and told the Las Angeles Police Department, during the video, to “put Ray Diaz in a cage once and for all.”
The LAPD announced it was investigating a “social media personality,” assumed to be Diaz, early Friday morning.
The LAPD is aware of several social media posts related to a social media personality, alleging physical abuse and sexual relations with a minor. We take these allegations seriously. Currently, the Department has directed a group of investigators to look into these allegations.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 12, 2019
Salek only implied the two had a sexual relationship–which would actually be statutory rape due to her minor status–during the interview. “I’m not sure how ready I am to share my life that personally,” she said when Keemstar asked her about it. “But we were in a relationship. I do think that answers your question.”
Salek said that on July 3, police came to Diaz’s home looking for her. She said that Diaz made her hide in his bed’s box spring so they wouldn’t find her.
“I had to be quiet and not make a sound,” she said, recalling the experience.
On July 5, Salek posted–and later deleted–a clip on Instagram of a man, alleged to be Diaz. In it, the man can be heard verbally and physically abusing her. Keemstar allegedly obtained the full recording of the abuse and included it in his video.
On July 6, Diaz told the Hollywood Fix that the video was fake and the two were just acting.
“It was fake. It is acting lessons,” he said in the FaceTime interview. “It does sound crazy. But it’s something you learn in acting class if you study in New York City. It’s just screaming and yelling. I do this before every single audition with Angelica. It gets the juices flowing.”
Salek refuted that claim in her interview with Keemstar.
The Robbery-Homicide Division Special Assault Section and the San Diego Police Department arrested Diaz, whose bail is set at $500,000.
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H/T CNN