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Estefan Stalker Trouble

Fri., Feb. 22, 2002 3:30 PM PST by Josh Grossberg

It wasn't exactly the rhythm of the night that moved authorities to arrest a Venezuelan actor accused of stalking Gloria Estefan and her music mogul husband, Emilio.

It was more like trespassing.

Juan Carlos Diaz, 33, was arrested by Miami police Thursday. A warrant had been issued by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's office for his arrest after he allegedly snuck onto the grounds of the celebrity couple's estate last month.

The arrest is the latest in what has become a headline-grabbing, long-running feud between Diaz and the Estefans, who claim the man has been terrorizing them for two years.

The trouble began when the Grammy-winning Latin pop queen was shooting the video for "Nadie Como Tu," on which Diaz was an extra. Since then he is accused of following them to the gym, stalking their daughter at school, trying to befriend their son and invading the couple's home on two separate occasions.

The actor first crashed a lavish New Year's Eve party the couple threw at their mansion, where he allegedly fondled Estefan as she was dancing with her mother. Then, on January 7, he was caught by a security camera trying to get through a gate and onto the grounds of the estate in the exclusive enclave of Star Island.

The Estefans' cook reportedly confronted Diaz, who claimed he was Emilio Estefan's nephew.

A week afterward, Diaz called a press conference and announced he was filing a petition for a restraining order against Emilio Estefan, claiming the Grammy-winning producer and his bodyguard threatened to beat Diaz up. He also publicly stated that Emilio Estefan had approached him for sexual favors, a charge which Estefan quickly denied.

The couple struck back and requested a restraining order of their own. The judge sided with them, barring Diaz from going near the couple, their family or their residence. On January 31, the Estefans also launched a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Diaz, calling the actor's behavior "frightening" and alleging he "victimized" them and others.

The couple also turned over to authorities the videotape of Diaz's attempt to sneak onto their property--hence the warrant.

Diaz was arrested Thursday after attending a court hearing in which his attorney decided to quit. Diaz was charged with misdemeanor trespassing--which carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison--and was released on bond Friday morning.

Apparently Diaz, whose acting credits include the film Escape from Cuba, has a history of bothering people.

The Miami Herald reports that a man in nearby Broward County obtained an injunction against Diaz last May after he harassed his family.

Three months later, a 65-year-old Miami woman went to court to get a restraining order against Diaz for allegedly making a threatening phone call after he trespassed in her home. Her case was dismissed after Diaz claimed she had made sexual overtures, flashed him and tried to grab his genitals.

On a happier note, Gloria Estefan will be among the performers at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics Sunday. She'll be performing a medley of her greatest hits.

We'll have to wait and see if "Can't Stay Away from You" makes the cut.