Woman seriously injured in Boca hit-and-run; driver arrested in Tennessee
BOCA RATON — About 24 hours after a man reportedly ran over a woman in Boca Raton, he was arrested more than 700 miles away in southeastern Tennessee, Florida Highway Patrol authorities said.
State investigators say William Alex Sidney Pantaleon, 24, drove off shortly before 11:30 a.m. Monday after hitting and seriously injuring the woman who exited his car near the Congress Avenue ramp to Interstate 95.
Law enforcement in Cleveland, Tennessee, a city 30 miles northeast of Chattanooga, arrested him Tuesday, according to FHP. He faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault, state authorities said.
An FHP spokesman said trooper Jennifer White was leaving the Mobil gas station off Congress while on routine patrol that morning when she noticed a woman getting out of an older black Honda Civic. The woman seemingly was in distress and waving her arms toward White.
The trooper then watched as the car crossed three lanes from the left-turn lane and turned toward the woman. The driver accelerated and ran her over before White could reach her.
Authorities did not publicly identify the woman but an FHP spokesman said she is in her early 20s.
In a news conference streamed live by WPTV NewsChannel 5, the Palm Beach Post’s news partner, FHP Lt. Yanko Reyes told reporters the victim’s family received a tip from Pantaleon’s family that he may have traveled to Tennessee.
Pataleon and the woman were in a relationship, Reyes said.
FHP investigators contacted police in Cleveland, who began surveillance in the area where Pantaleon was suspected of staying. According to Cleveland police, an officer found a vehicle that matched the description of the one he was driving.
A Cleveland police officer pulled the vehicle over. Officers confirmed Pantaleon was the driver and took him into custody. They transferred him to the Bradley County Justice Center, where he was booked and charged with being a fugitive from justice.
In March 2018, Hollywood police arrested Pantaleon after he reportedly weaved through traffic on a moped, ran a red light and fled from officers. When officers finally stopped him, he tried to bite an officer, according to court records.
He was arrested again in May after driving without a license tag, court records show. It appears the 2018 case was resolved last month with Pantaleon serving time on probation.
Broward County court records indicate he lives in West Park, a city southwest of Hollywood.
Staff reporter Eliot Kleinberg contributed to this report.