WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Palm Beach County man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say he fled a traffic stop, resisted arrest, and repeatedly struck a sheriff’s office K-9 during a confrontation Saturday.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said one of their deputies first encountered 30-year-old Diego Alberto Cisneros around 11:40 a.m. on Feb. 14 while stopped at a red light on Belvedere Road at North Haverhill Road. The deputy reported that Cisneros, driving a gray Nissan Altima with a dark license plate cover, made an improper lane change and failed to yield to another vehicle. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, but investigators say Cisneros briefly slowed before making a U-turn, causing the deputy to activate his siren.
The affidavit stated Cisneros accelerated away, made another U-turn within seconds, and ran a red light as he fled. The deputy disengaged from the attempted stop, citing safety and agency policy, but later used an ID system to identify the Altima’s license plate. The deputy reported he was able to match Cisneros to the vehicle after comparing him to his driver’s license photo. Records showed Cisneros had no valid driver’s license and an active felony warrant for fleeing and eluding from an unrelated 2025 case.
Hours later, at 7:14 p.m., another deputy conducting surveillance near Cisneros’ listed address in Lake Worth Beach reportedly spotted the Altima returning to the area, according to another arrest affidavit. When backup units arrived, the vehicle was boxed in near 2nd Avenue and South Dixie Highway with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Deputies say Cisneros refused multiple commands to exit his vehicle before eventually stepping out and lying on the ground. According to the affidavit, he repeatedly refused orders to crawl toward deputies, stood up multiple times, and at one point walked toward them in an “aggressive manner” while reaching toward his waistband. A deputy deployed a Taser, striking Cisneros in the stomach.
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Investigators say a PBSO K-9 was deployed during the struggle. Deputies reported that Cisneros punched the dog several times with a closed fist and attempted to choke the K-9 by wrapping his arm around its throat. Deputies then moved in and forced Cisneros into custody.
Feb. 14, 2026, deputies say Diego Alberto Cisneros fled two traffic stop attempts in Palm Beach County and later resisted arrest—allegedly attacking a K-9 because he had no valid driver’s license and an active felony warrant. (PBC Jail){ }
Cisneros was arrested on Feb. 15 for fleeing and eluding, resisting an officer with violence, unlawful alteration of a license plate, offenses against police K-9s, and driving without a license. He is being held without bond on several of the charges, including the outstanding warrant.