Boca Raton Police Arrest Man for Stolen Firearm, DUI in Traffic Stop

Anthony Gonzalez (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A Boca Raton police officer pulled over a speeding vehicle that led to the arrest of the driver on suspicion of drunk driving and possessing a stolen firearm.

Anthony Gonzalez, 33, of Lake Worth was pulled over by Boca Raton police on West Palmetto Park Road near Sugar Sand Park at 2:16 a.m. Friday, July 11, according to a police report. Gonzalez, who was driving a 2008 Honda Fit, was estimated visually by the officer to be driving at 65 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone, prompting the officer to follow him onto I-95 north, where he was allegedly paced while driving 92 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone.

According to the report, after the vehicle pulled over near the Glades Road exit, a “strong and very distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage” was detected, and a bottle of Modelo Negra beer was seen in the center console. Gonzalez, the report said, consented to perform a field sobriety test and told the officer he had a firearm in the vehicle while exiting, at which point the officer transported the suspect to an area near the FAU campus where it was safer for the tests to be performed.. The report indicates that Gonzalez failed the field sobriety tests, at which point he was arrested on a DUI charge.

After the arrest, Officer Timothy Almeida ran a check on the serial number of the weapon – a Smith & Wesson M&P handgun – which had previously been reported stolen to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Two breath tests were later performed, the report said, with the driver registering .158 and .147, respectively. Florida’s legal limit is .08.

Gonzalez was charged with grand theft of a firearm, DUI and refusing to sign a criminal citation. He was transported to the Palm Beach County Jail, from which he was released after posting a cash bond.