Bond Set At $10,000.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton resident faces charges after police allege he sideswiped a patrol car during a traffic stop and fled the scene late Friday night. Michael Slate, 74, of the 5200 block of Sapphire Valley, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving damage following the incident on West Yamato Road.
The collision occurred just after 8:20 p.m. near the 2200 block of West Yamato Road. According to the arrest report reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, a Boca Raton police officer had pulled over a white Jeep Grand Cherokee and parked with the patrol vehicle partially on the shoulder. As the officer opened the driver’s side door to exit, a silver Toyota sedan allegedly sideswiped the door, swinging it violently toward the hood of the patrol car. The report states that the sedan continued driving eastbound without stopping.
Investigators reviewed in-car camera footage to identify the fleeing vehicle’s license plate, which led them to Slate’s residence. When police arrived at the home, Slate reportedly met officers at the door and stated, “I hit a car or someone hit me.” While inspecting the damage to his vehicle, Slate allegedly offered conflicting accounts, initially claiming someone pulled out in front of him as he drove home from his girlfriend’s house.
During questioning, an officer informed Slate that the vehicle he struck was a police car, to which Slate reportedly replied, “I knew that,” and admitted to driving away despite knowing it was an officer. Slate was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of “Hit and Run.” He was later released on $10,000 bond.
