Boca Raton chef faces DUI and drug charges after deputies report 102 mph pursuit

West Palm Beach, Florida – A Boca Raton chef faces multiple charges after deputies say he drove at speeds reaching 102 mph before a traffic stop uncovered marijuana and prescription medication inside his car.

Rafael Soto Ross, 30, was arrested early Thursday following a pursuit along Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach, according to CBS12’s report citing a criminal probable cause affidavit.

A deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office initially recorded Ross’s black Kia traveling at 84 mph in a 45 mph zone. Authorities allege that he then drove through a red light at South Congress Avenue.

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The vehicle subsequently reached 102 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the affidavit. Deputies said Ross eventually slowed as he merged onto southbound Interstate 95, where they conducted a traffic stop.

During the encounter, investigators reported a strong odor of alcohol and noted that Ross had bloodshot eyes. They also said he had been driving without shoes.

Deputies allegedly found approximately 7.58 grams of marijuana inside the vehicle. A red cooler contained 129 dissolvable strips of buprenorphine and naloxone, a generic form of Suboxone, according to the report. Investigators said the prescription labels had been torn off.

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Ross initially refused a breath test but later submitted to testing, CBS12 reported. Two readings each recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.146.

Investigators also checked his driving records, which reportedly showed that his license had been canceled in 2024 and that he had previous suspensions.

The charges listed in the report include DUI, reckless driving, excessive speeding, driving with a suspended license, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

The allegations concerning Ross’s driving, condition and the substances recovered from his car are based on the authorities’ account. The charges do not establish guilt.