TikTok Influencer Marlena Velez Arrested Again for Running from Police

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Marlena Velez, a 23-year-old TikTok influencer, was arrested by Cape Coral police on October 12. Velez was wanted for violating her probation and fleeing from law enforcement following a traffic stop on September 29. Officers recognized her as they spotted her driving a gray Kia Sorento in a residential area.

During the earlier incident, police attempted to pull her over but she sped away, leading officers to disengage due to safety concerns. On Sunday, officers located the same vehicle parked and initially saw Velez in the passenger seat. When they approached the car, she was mysteriously missing.

Officers discovered Velez lying on the backseat floorboard, attempting to hide from them. Both Velez and the driver were detained as police checked for active warrants. Velez now faces charges including two counts of probation violation and one count of fleeing and eluding law enforcement. She remains in custody at Lee County Jail without bond.

This recent arrest follows a history of legal issues for Velez. In November 2024, she gained attention on social media after posting a video of herself shoplifting items from a Target store valued at around $500. Her TikTok account gained significant traction, and investigators linked her to thefts based on her online activity.

Despite her ongoing legal troubles, Velez, who has over 528,000 followers on TikTok, continued posting lifestyle and family content on her account, @marlenavelezz. Her previous arrests for shoplifting included using fake barcodes at the Target self-checkout and a prior incident in July 2023 at a local Walmart.

Velez is scheduled to appear in court later this month. Florida law allows police to detain individuals for probation violations without bond, complicating her legal situation.