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FHP: Suspect arrested in Tennessee for hit and run in Boca Raton

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Posted at 11:42 AM, Jan 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-15 05:33:39-05

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol says a driver who hit and ran over his girlfriend Monday morning in Boca Raton has been captured in Tennessee.

According to FHP, 24-year-old William Alex Sidney Pantaleon was taken into custody on Tuesday in Cleveland, Tennessee.

FHP said a trooper spotted a young woman exit a Honda Civic around 11:30 a.m. Monday near the Interstate 95 entrance ramp at Congress Avenue.

The trooper said the woman appeared to be in distress and was waving her arms in an attempt to get the trooper's attention.

Before the trooper was able to get to the woman, the Honda Civic abruptly got out of the left turn lane while the traffic signal was red, and crossed three lanes of traffic.

The Honda accelerated toward the victim, hitting her and running her over, according to FHP.

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VIDEO: Suspect arrested in Tennessee for hit-and-run in Boca Raton

"We found out the suspect was in a relationship with the victim," said FHP Lt. Yanko Reyes at a news conference on Tuesday. Lt. Reyes added a domestic dispute led to the violent incident.

The vehicle fled the scene and the trooper stayed on scene to assist the victim, who was seriously hurt.

"She automatically stopped and rendered aid to the victim," said Lt. Reyes. "It helped save her life."

FHP said the victim identified the driver as Pantaleon.

FHP said the victim's family received a tip from the suspect's family that Pantaleon was in Cleveland, Tennessee.

The Florida Highway Patrol said they contacted the Cleveland Police Department, which located Pantaleon on Tuesday.

"They found the vehicle, and they observed, as the suspect exited the location where he was staying at, got into an unknown vehicle, Cleveland P.D. made a traffic stop, identified the suspect, and they arrested him," said Lt. Reyes.

Pantaleon is facing an attempted murder charge and will be extradited back to Palm Beach County, according to Lt. Reyes.

The victim is expected to make a full recovery.