One of the members of the 1987 championship track team that was featured in Disney’s McFarland, USA was arrested in Bakersfield, California yesterday. According to Fox News, Bakersfield Police Detective Damacio Diaz has been accused of taking bribes from drug dealers for tipping them off about police informants over the last three years. He is also accused of taking seized drugs for himself instead of entering them as evidence and filing false tax returns.
When announcing the charges, Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson mentioned Diaz’s portrayal in the film and in his community saying,”People aren’t always what they seem.” Diaz has been with the Bakersfield Police Department for the past 17 years.
McFarland, USA, which starred Kevin Cosner as the coach of the champion cross-country team in Bakersfield was released by Disney in February of this year.