Shakira’s bodyguard’s dark past revealed

Shakira’s bodyguard José Castro had a dark past.

Florida police chief resigns over scandal.

He had a police record.

The resignation of a police chief in Florida exposed the dark past of one of Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira’s bodyguards.

Chris Truitt, Biscayne Park Village Manager, released a statement.

The scandal involves José Castro, an officer assigned to the Biscayne Park Police Department, a small city northeast of Miami-Dade.

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Shakira’s bodyguard had a dark past

Photo: Mezcalo

Chief Luis Cabrera hired José Castro in spite of his criminal record.

Without giving further details of the period in which Castro worked for the department and the circumstances in which he became part of the singer’s personal security team, Truitt says that he was twice applied to police academies without success.

«Jose Castro has a lengthy criminal history including assault and battery, domestic assault, a weapons violation, and instances of impersonating a police officer,» Truitt said, according to Local 10.

When explaining how Castro was hired by the city, Truitt notes that Chief Luis Cabrera «created a volunteer background investigator position and appointed Mr. Castro.»

José Castro has a criminal record

Photo: Mezcalo

According to the report, Cabrera sponsored Castro’s police academy applications twice.

He bypassed the required background checks that would have disqualified him.

The last incident involving Castro, according to the official report, occurred in January 2024, when he answered an emergency call at the Colombian singer’s mansion.

Castro «identified himself as an off-duty Biscayne Park police officer with a BPPD badge number,» explains Truitt.

How the scandal came to light

Photo: Miami Dade Police Chiefs Association

He «was seen on responding officer’s body cam footage holstering his weapon as police arrived. Mr. Castro is not a police officer and is not authorized by the Village to openly carry a firearm.”

During this incident, Daniel John Valtier, 56, who allegedly had been harassing Shakira since 2023 and claimed to be married to her, was arrested.

It is unknown if José is still employed by Shakira.