Overview:
Haitian entertainer and media figure Carel Pedre was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on Dec. 21 on a domestic violence charge. Details were not immediately available about the incident in Tamarac that led to the arrest nor regarding the immigration hold placed on his record—fueling speculation on social media networks.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story, last updated Sunday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m. with a statement from Chokarella and the immigration hold.
NEW YORK — Haitian media personality Carel Pedre was being held in a Broward County jail Sunday after being arrested on a domestic violence allegation earlier that day, according to Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) records. He also faces an immigration hold after initially being taken into custody on one charge of “touch or strike/battery/domestic violence.”
As of 7:45 p.m. Sunday, no bond had been set.
Chokarella, the company that Pedre founded, issued a statement Sunday confirming that the arrest occurred.
“It is important to note that an arrest does not automatically result in charges, or does it imply guilt,” the statement reads. “Once Carel is home and in a position to do so, he will speak on his own behalf and share his perspective on what occurred, in his own words, as he has consistently done in the past.
Screenshots of Carel Pedre’s arrest, including his booking photo. Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Screenshots of Carel Pedre’s arrest, including his booking photo. Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Screenshots of Carel Pedre’s arrest, including his booking photo. Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest stems from an incident that occurred in Tamarac, a town in northwestern Broward County, according to BSO arrest records. Pedre, 45, was then booked into the county’s main jail in Fort Lauderdale.
A hearing is set for Monday, Dec. 22, a source inside the BSO told The Haitian Times. The person said that usually for such domestic violence arrests, bond is set between $1,000 and $2,500.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not officially authorized to speak about the case, said Pedre is being watched closely because of his influencer status.
Details about the immigration hold are also pending. However, in recent months, many law enforcement jurisdictions have decided to share information about arrests they make with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the mass deportation efforts under the current administration. Florida is among many states collaborating with the federal government and has opened or expanded several detention facilities, including the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Between January and September 2025, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, had given $39 million to statewide and local Florida agencies that joined its public safety and national security programs. Part of this effort to “defend the homeland” entails immigration enforcement, DHS said.
Statement by Chokarella released via Facebook.
With no details about Pedre’s arrest being released by law enforcement, Haitian social media immediately lit up with speculation about what may have occurred and has swirled with allegations about Pedre’s personal life.
Pedre is one of the most recognized media figures, with a career spanning over 25 years in radio, television and digital media. Born and raised in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, Pedre rose to prominence as a host on Haiti’s top radio programs and television shows, including Radio One’s Chokarella and Digicel Stars, a major talent showcase. Pedre’s work spans podcasting and media production, and he has been influential in shaping Haitian entertainment and cultural coverage both in Haiti and throughout the diaspora.
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