Omar Montes recently made headlines for events that did not involve his music. He was at a Peníscola venue last Friday, September 16, when he live-streamed from his car on Instagram. At a checkpoint, several police officers stopped him. Rather than end the broadcast, Montes continued streaming, turning the moment into a public exchange with the officers in view of his thousands of followers. As the officers attempted to switch off the phone and request that the recording stop, Montes answered with a comment that amplified the tension:
“All guns pointed at us like we’re criminals with bad people and you have to come to me because I’m coming to sing.”
During the confrontation, one of the officers identified himself as a member of the national security corps and explained that the safety of everyone involved required that the recording be stopped. Montes replied that it felt odd to see a large police presence, noting the apparent imbalance in numbers:
“You have your rifles raised among twenty of you; there are three of us, and we have just finished performing… that seems a bit suspicious”, he observed in a heated tone. He added that his priority was staying safe and feeling comfortable about the situation, saying he would prefer to keep himself protected and that his trust in the situation was limited, which he conveyed with blunt language.
Subsequently, the scene drew attention from viewers who watched the exchange unfold online, with many weighing in on social media about the conduct of the officers and the singer. The incident highlights how moments of public performance can intersect with law enforcement dynamics, especially when live video is involved and the performer remains in motion, choosing to continue communicating with fans while the authorities address the matter at hand.
Omar Montes faced penalties for multiple traffic violations linked to the fan meet-and-greet event.
When the police urged him to show respect and cooperate, Montes complied with the request to pause the live stream and allow the officers to complete the necessary procedures. The singer took steps to disengage from the camera and to signal the presence of staff members who were accompanying him in the car, helping to de-escalate the situation and ensure that the situation could be managed safely by the authorities and the fans watching from a distance.