Influencer arrested for alleged sexual assault

Social media influencer, Ray Diaz has been arrested for alleged sexual assault, after being accused of both physical and verbal abuse by a 16-year-old girl he allegedly had a relationship with.

Diaz, 33 was taken into custody in San Diego by the elite Robbery-Homicide Division Special Assault Section with the help of the San Diego Police Department.

His bail has been set at $500,000, according to police.

The Los Angeles Police department opened an investigation into the influencer after disturbing videos were leaked that appear to show him verbally and physically assaulting Angelica Salek, 16, who he was allegedly dating — rumours that he furiously denied.

Diaz, runs a YouTube channel which boasts over 300k subscribers and boasts 3.1 million followers on Instagram. He has also appeared in several low-ranking films.

On July 5, a video was posted to Angelica’s Instagram account, featuring a man alleged to be Diaz. The video was taken lens down, showing only a black screen on what appears to be a car seat. But the audio shows the man in the car screaming and threatening Salek with violence and sounds of him hitting her while she sobs.

At one point in the confronting video, the man tells Angelica to “kill herself” and “die” so he can “just get on with life”.

The video was originally removed from the Instagram account, with Salek claiming her mother had posted it in a bid to break up the relationship, and that the yelling and screaming was merely acting practice.

Diaz also came out to say he does to evoke emotion before he attends auditions – something he learnt in New York.

However, Salek has since come spoken out in a lengthy interview with YouTube star Keemstar in an episode of his show DramaAlert, claiming that it was in fact real abuse and that she had endured it for months. She also claimed that Diaz forced her to lie and say it wasn’t real.

She also confirmed she was dating the 33-year-old, from the time she was 16.

“Yes, we were dating,” Salek told Keemstar, adding “[for] around 11 months or something.”

And when asked if the pair were “sexually active” the emotional Salek alluded the answer was yes.

YouTuber Keemstar interjected stating sleeping with someone under the age of 18 in California is statutory rape.

On Friday, the LAPD announced via Twitter they were "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," the LAPD wrote.

Salek told Keemstar that all she wants is for Diaz to be brought to justice for his alleged actions.

"I hope and pray that something does happen here, that he does get put away. I don't want this to happen to any other girl," she said.