ROAD RAGE IN TESLA ON JOG ROAD IN BOCA RATON. ARRESTED BY BOCA RATON POLICE. ALLEGEDLY PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE ACT…
BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE — October 4, 2023 @ 12:30 p.m. — While Boca Raton Police requested a “child abuse” charge as BocaNewsNow.com previously reported, prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue that charge. It is listed in the affidavit of probable cause. However, the ONLY charge Mr. Pagano currently faces is “Assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.”
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The owner of popular restaurant chain “Naked Taco” is in the Palm Beach County Jail Monday following his arrest for an alleged road rage incident that led to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The alleged incident involving Ralph Pagano occurred in March. It’s unclear why the warrant was just issued for his arrest.
The affidavit of probable cause, filed by the Boca Raton Police Department, provides the narrative for the event. We are publishing the narrative in its entirety so there is no question about the facts as presented by arresting officers:
ARREST REPORT: On 3/6/2023 I was assigned this case for follow-up investigation. BRPD received a 911 call on 3/3/2023 at 0735 hours regarding a road rage incident. Officers responded to the area of 6500 Jog Rd and met with the caller, Victim 1) 1V1), and his juvenile child (V2) .
V1 provided the following statement: he was driving northbound on Jog Rd taking V2 to school when a black Tesla (FL Tag DVRD48) pulled out from the Seasons Community. The Tesla cut across the southbound lanes of Jog Rd and went into the northbound lanes, cutting V1 off. Vl had to apply his brakes to avoid the Tesla and then honked the horn of his vehicle. The Tesla continued all the way over to the outside (right) lane and stopped in traffic. The driver of the Tesla then rolled down his window and began shouting at V1, who, in turn, “flipped off” the Tesla driver. As the Tesla driver continued to yell at V1, V1 took a picture of the male in his Tesla. He then looked forward in his vehicle and assumed the incident was over. V1 then heard something and looked to see the Tesla driver sticking a baseball bat through the open front passenger window, into VI’s vehicle, while shouting “I’ll kill you!” V1 believed that the Tesla driver was actually going to hit him with the bat, and only missed because he couldn’t reach V1. The baseball bat came within inches of V1’s head and, while doing so, hit V2 on the top of her head. The Tesla driver then returned to his vehicle and drove away.
BRFD responded to check V2 who did not sustain any injuries. A witness to the incident, Wl, also called into 911 to report what he had seen. W1 spoke with officers and stated that the black Tesla had pulled out of Seasons aggressively and cut off VI’s vehicle, causing V1 to have to apply his brakes. Wl saw a verbal altercation ensure during which the driver of the Tesla was shouting obscenities at V1. Moments later, the driver of the Tesla emerged from his vehicle wielding a baseball bat.
The driver of the Tesla then shoved the baseball bat through the open front passenger window of VI’s vehicle. W1 fully believed that the Tesla driver was actually attempting to hurt Vl and did not believe this was a mere threat. Research into the Tesla revealed that the registered owner was Ralph Pagano and that he had an address in the Seasons neighborhood, where the Tesla was seen driving from. I created two photo arrays to be administered to V1 and W1.
On 3/10/2023, BRPD Detective Peck met with V1 and administered the photo-line up. V1 selected the bottom middle photograph (number 5) therefore positively identifying Pagano as the suspect. I met with V1 and obtained a sworn statement about the incident. V1 confirmed the original information he provided, saying that he was driving with his 10-year-old daughter (V2) northbound on Jog Rd when the Tesla pulled out in front of him. The Tesla driver, now identified as Pagano, began yelling at him. V1 “flipped off” Pagano, took his picture, and then looked forward. He then heard V2 shout as a baseball bat was being shoved through the open window. Vl said the bat narrowly missed his head and that he fully believed Pagano intended to hurt him. Pagano then retreated to his vehicle and drove away. V1 said that V2 had been struck on the head by the bat, which made contact with the top of her head as Pagano pushed it through the window. V2 did not sustain any injuries but was very scared following the incident. Vl then showed me the picture that he took of Pagano before the incident. It should be noted that the individual in the picture was visually similar to the license photograph of Pagano.
On 3/17/2023, BRPD Detective Immler met with Wl and administer the photo-line up. It should be noted that the filler photographs were different than in the original line-up shown to Vl. Wl was not able to make an identification and did not choose any photographs. I then met with WI to obtain a sworn statement about the incident. Wl confirmed his initial statement to officers and corroborated the statement given by V1.
According to Wl, the black Tesla cut off V1 while pulling out from the Seasons community. Pagano then began yelling at V1 before emerging from the black Tesla with a baseball bat. W1 then stated that Pagano ran toward Vl’s vehicle and stuck the baseball bat through the window. Wi said that it appeared as though Pagano intended to actually strike V1 rather than just scare him. Wi also noted that V2, who was in the front passenger seat, was visible from outside the vehicle, and therefore he believed that Pagano would have seen V2 before approaching the vehicle. W1 was unable to see if either V1 or V2 were actually stuck with the bat. Pagano then returned to his vehicle and left the area. I showed W1 the picture taken by V1 of the driver in the black Tesla. Wl confirmed that the person in the photograph was the person that assaulted V1 with a baseball bat. Wi also confirmed that he does not know V1 and has not spoken with V1 about this incident.
On 4/12/2023, BRPD Detective Peck and I went to Pagano’s residence in Seasons to speak with him. Upon our arrival we received no answer at the door. While Detective Peck and I were still in the area, we observed a black Tesla bearing FL Tag DVRD48 pull into the driveway and Pagano emerged. We made contact with Pagano and introduced ourselves. I told him that I was there to discuss an incident he may have been involved in. I read Pagano his constitutional warnings from a pre-printed department issued card. Pagano stated he understood his rights and signed the card. I showed Pagano a copy of the picture that V1 had taken from the day of the incident. When asked if it was Pagano in the picture, he said it did look like him. I asked again and Pagano confirmed that the person in the photograph taken by V1 was him. I then asked about the incident and Pagano stated he was engaged in a verbal altercation with V1 but that nothing physical occurred. I explained the allegations regarding the baseball bat and informed Pagano that the incident was witnessed, but Pagano again denied ever having a baseball bat or
using it to threaten of hurt anyone. When further confronted with questions about the incident, Pagano invoked his right to counsel, and the interview ceased. I provided Pagano with my contact information and told him to contact me if he wished to speak again
The black Tesla (FL Tag DVRD48) observed by V1 and W1 was registered to Ralph Pagano. Pagano lives in the neighborhood where the Tesla was seen exiting just before the incident occurred. V1 took a picture of the suspect in the Tesla just before the incident occurred. Pagano was positively identified by V1 during a photo line-up. W1 did not identify Pagano in the photo line-up but confirmed that the photograph taken by V1 showed the suspect. Pagano, post-Miranda, identified himself in the photograph taken by V1. During the incident, Pagano was reported to have assaulted V1 while holding a baseball bat, and, in the course of doing so, struck V2 on the head with the bat. The assault against V1 and V2 was witnessed by an independent party who confirmed that he saw Pagano shove the bat through the open window of VI’s vehicle. W1 witnessed the assault but was unable to see if Pagano hit anyone with the bat.
Based on the information and evidence obtained during this investigation, there is probable cause to show that Pagang did commit the offense of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (baseball bat) against V1 and the office of Aggravated Child Abuse against V2 for striking the juvenile on the head with a deadly weapon (baseball bat). Charges will be filed with the Office of the State Attorney.
Pagano was being held Monday evening in the Palm Beach County Jail on $10,000 bond. His home address is listed as the 6400 block of NW 30th Avenue in Boca Raton.
