BOCA RATON, FL — Boca Raton police arrested a man late Tuesday after they said he crashed a Cadillac on Congress Avenue and showed several signs of impairment, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk .
The officer wrote that he arrived in the 9670 block of Congress Avenue just before 10:40 p.m. on Nov. 25, where he found a white 2013 Cadillac XTS with fresh damage on the front passenger side. The vehicle was stopped in the roadway and facing the opposite direction of travel, the report states.
The driver, identified as Luis Fernando Arboleda Gallego, 38, was listed in the arrest report as a tennis instructor at The Boca Raton resort . When the officer approached, he wrote that the engine was running and Arboleda Gallego had “glossy eyes,” a strong odor of alcohol, and slow, lethargic movements. The officer told him to put the car in park. Instead, according to the affidavit, Arboleda Gallego grabbed a drink from the center cupholder and then pressed the gas pedal, instead. The officer then opened the door and put the car in park, turned off the engine, and removed Gallego from the vehicle.
When asked what happened, Gallego said "nothing".
Officers conducted a DUI investigation at the scene. The affidavit cites multiple signs of impairment, including horizontal gaze nystagmus, balance issues, and difficulty following instructions during field-sobriety exercises. He swayed while standing and showed divided-attention problems, according to the report.
Arboleda Gallego told police he had been drinking and said he consumed alcohol between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. after playing tennis earlier in the evening. He also said he struck a curb and lost control of the vehicle, though he couldn’t clearly explain why the Cadillac ended up facing the wrong way in the roadway, the report states.
Arboleda Gallego was arrested on suspicion of DUI – property damage, a misdemeanor under Florida Statute 316.193(3)(c)1. He was transported to the Boca Raton Police testing facility, where he provided two breath samples of 0.177 and 0.184, more than twice the legal limit. The test was completed shortly after midnight on Nov. 26, records show.
During processing, officers noted he remained calm and cooperative and denied any injuries or medical issues. The statutory exemptions sheet filed with the case shows no Marsy’s Law protections were invoked.
Arboleda Gallego was later booked into the Palm Beach County Jail where he has since been released.
Your Side of the Story
Boca Post reports on arrests and criminal proceedings based on official records and information released by law enforcement agencies. An arrest represents an allegation and does not constitute a finding of guilt.
Individuals mentioned in coverage may submit a clearly labeled Sponsored Response to share their perspective. This is separate from our journalism and does not alter our reporting.
Factual errors are corrected free of charge. If your case has been resolved, we update coverage with court documentation at no cost.
