BOCA RATON – Local police arrested two men for fleeing an alleged drug deal just before 6:45 p.m. March 30; assaulting police officers and crashing their vehicle into three cars.
Suspects were identified as Esdras Raymond, 19, of Boca Raton and Justin Werner, 21, of Delray Beach. Public Information Officer Sandra Boonenberg said Raymond is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, fleeing and eluding, trafficking oxycodone, driving under the influence and violation of probation. Werner is charged with possession of oxycodone.
Boca Police Tactical Team members were conducting routine surveillance in the parking lots of Boomers and the Cinemark Movie Theater when a black Dodge Magnum entered the parking lot of Boomers.
Police said the Dodge pulled into a parking space next to another vehicle, but no one got out. A few minutes later the vehicle left Boomers and drove to the parking lot of Cinemark.
When one of the police officers approached the vehicle, the driver of the Dodge backed up, nearly striking her. Then, the car struck the officer’s police vehicle, tearing off the bumper.
The driver, identified as Raymond, continued backing and struck another police officer’s vehicle. This officer sustained minor injuries. Raymond then put the car in drive and drove directly at the first officer. As Raymond drove toward the exit, he nearly struck a security guard for Cinemark, Boonenberg said.
Raymond drove south on Airport Road at a high rate of speed, with one officer in pursuit. Raymond then turned east on Glades Road and increased his speed, pulling away from the police officer. A Volvo, occupied by four people, was just pulling out of the parking lot of University Commons, when the Dodge struck it broadside, causing it to flip over several times.
Three of the four occupants of the Volvo were transported to Delray Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, said Boonenberg. Raymond did not require medical treatment, but the passenger, Justin Werner, sustained injuries and was admitted to Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
Police said Raymond told them he met Werner to conduct a drug transaction.