Matthew Bonner Was Asked For Rental Car Paperwork When Stopped In East Boca Raton. Police Say He Provided An Animal Vaccination Card.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Boca Raton resident Matthew Bonner was allegedly so drunk while driving on a suspended license in East Boca Raton that when stopped by police, he provided an animal vaccination card instead of the rental car paperwork they asked for. He was eventually arrested for DUI.
Bonner, of the 22000 block of Boca Place Drive, was stopped on September 12th. The arrest report was just processed by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts. This is how Boca Raton Police say the incident went down:
“At approximately 0244 hours, I observed a black Chevy pickup driving westbound on SE 3rd St to make a southbound turn onto Federal Hwy and was driving with its driver-side tires on the solid yellow line. After making the southbound turn onto Federal Hwy, it then stopped at the red light at SE 5th St, ahead of the stop bar and in the crosswalk, in violation of F. S. S. 316.075 (1C1). I then activated my lights and sirens in my marked police vehicle, and the vehicle came to a final stop in the Exxon gas station parking lot at 1 E Camino Real. I then made contact with the driver of the vehicle.
I informed the driver that I stopped him because he had stopped in the crosswalk at the red light at 5th St and Federal Hwy. I asked the driver for his driver’s license, registration, and insurance. The driver then handed me his FL DI, which identified him as Matthew Bonner, and informed me the vehicle is a rental vehicle. I then asked for the rental vehicle paperwork, and Bonner handed me animal vaccine records.
Bonner advised they were heading to their home in Boca Raton and were coming from a restaurant here in Boca Raton. While speaking with Bonner, Bonner had red, glossy eyes, and he was slurring his speech. I also observed an open clear cup filled with an unknown brown liquid with ice in the center console.
Upon running Bonner’s license through FCIC/NCIC and DAVID, I became aware that Bonner’ s FL DL was suspended on 12/07/2020. I then approached Bonner and asked him to step outside of the vehicle to speak with me about his driver’s license. Bonner willingly stepped out. While stepping outside of the vehicle, Bonner appeared to lose his balance and could not walk properly. Bonner kept motioning his hands up and said he would keep his hands up, Ofc Price then conducted a pat down of Bonner to check for any weapons.
While doing so, Bonner advised he gave Ofc Price “content” to search his pockets. I then asked Bonner what was going on with his driver’s license. Bonner advised that his driver’s license is suspended, and he knew he should not have been driving.”
According to Boca Raton Police, Bonner said he and his fiancé were returning home from “Fat Cats.” Police noted that Bonner said he was driving because his fiancé was more inebriated than he was. Bonner allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests and then refused to submit to a blood or breath alcohol test following his arrest. He was booked into the Palm Beach County and eventually released on his own recognizance. He’ll be in court later this year.
