Allegedly Says, “Oh Yeah” When Asked If “Wasted.”
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — I-95 has a special lane to “go home.” At least that’s allegedly what a Boca Raton resident told a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper in the minutes before she was arrested for DUI. Sarah Russo, 34, of Atlantic Circle in Boca is now facing a charge of driving under the influence. She allegedly slammed her Mercedes SUV into a pickup near Atlantic Avenue. We are publishing much of the Trooper’s arrest report, below. We note that not only did Ms. Russo allegedly say she was traveling in “the lane to go home” when asked where she was, but allegedly also admitted to being “wasted” while being transported to jail.
POLICE REPORT: “On Friday, April 11th, 2025, at approximately 04:42 p.m. I was dispatched to a crash that occurred on northbound Interstate 95 (State Road 9) just north of State Road 806 (Atlantic Avenue). I arrived at the scene of the crash at approximately 4:47 P. M. Upon my arrival, I observed a black in color Mercedes Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with front end damage displaying and a white Ram work van with rear end damage. Fire Rescue advised me that the female inside of the black Mercedes was being noncompliant and behaving erratically. (Another Trooper) arrived shortly after at the scene of the crash to assist me. I then introduced myself to the female driver (who was identified by her Florida’s driver license as Sarah Anna Russo, 34, and asked her if she would like medical treatment from fire rescue. Ms. Russo then denied transportation and refused to be treated by fire rescue. Upon questioning Ms. Russo for information pertaining to the crash, she mumbled and slurred her words, unable to give any information pertaining to the crash. I then concluded my crash investigation and proceeded to conduct a criminal investigation for driving under the influence (DUI) based on the observations I had observed during my interaction with her.
I then read Ms. Russo her Miranda rights at approximately 4:50 PM. I asked Ms. Russo if she understood her Miranda Warning rights. She stated she did. I asked if she was still willing to speak with me. Ms. Russo advised she was still willing to speak with me. It should be noted that while speaking to Ms. Russo, I observed her eyes to be glassy and watery. There was also an odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath that became stronger every time she spoke, and her speech was slurred. I then asked Ms. Russo which lane she was traveling in, where she then replied, ‘the lane to go home“. I then proceeded to ask how fast she was traveling, and she replied that she could not remember anything pertaining to the crash. When asked if she had any underlying medical issues, if she took any medication, or if she drank any alcoholic beverages today, she informed me that she has no medical issues that I should be aware of and that she does not take medications and had not consumed any alcoholic beverages during the day.
I then transported Ms. Russo to a nearby RaceTrac, just west of Interstate 95 (State Road 9) off of Woolbright Road for her safety and mine. I then asked Ms. Russo if she was willing to perform voluntary Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises to make sure she was safe to drive. Ms. Russo was advised what would happen if she refused. I advised her that if she refused to perform the voluntary Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises, I would have to base my decision to arrest her on everything that I had observed up to that point (which was glassy and watery eyes, odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath and slurred speech) and that her refusal could be used against her in a court of law. I asked her if she understood what I had advised her of. She stated she understood. I asked Ms. Russo if she refused to perform the voluntary Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises. Ms. Russo then refused to do the exercises.
It should be noted that during our time at the RaceTrac, Ms. Russo was unable to maintain her balance and would lean on me for support and to steady herself. Based on the evidence collected through my investigation and the totality of the circumstances, I determined that there was probable cause to believe that Ms. Russo committed the offense of driving under the influence by being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and or any chemical substance, and or any controlled substance while her normal faculties were impaired.”
Ms. Russo was then transported to a breath alcohol testing facility where police say she refused to provide a sample.
“I asked Ms. Russo if she understood Florida Implied Consent. She advised she did not understand Florida Implied Consent. I then explained Florida Implied Consent again, stopping between intervals for any questions. Ms. Russo was then unwilling to speak to me and continued to be very agitated and verbally aggressive towards me, refusing to speak to me and at times would make rude remarks. I asked Ms. Russo if she still refused. Ms. Russo still refused to provide a breath sample.
Upon completion at the BAT center, I then transported Ms. Russo to Good Samaritan Medical Center located at 5208 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33417 to be medically cleared for processing at the Palm Beach County Jail. Once we returned to the jail, Ms. Russo spontaneously uttered in the back seat of my patrol vehicle that at least she did not go to work “wasted” “. When I questioned her if she was indeed wasted, she replied “oh yeah.” Ms. Russo was then booked into the Palm Beach County Jail without further incident.” (Russo was released from jail on her own recognizance. A court date is pending).
