Police: Boca man crashes car into home with family inside during jealous rage

Alexia Campbell

Sun Sentinel

7:25 p.m. EDT, July 7, 2010 

A mix of alcohol and jealous rage led a Boca Raton man to smash an SUV into his home on July Fourth while his wife and children were inside, according to police. 

Police arrived in the 800 block of Southwest Ninth Avenue on Sunday night to find the home's front door, window and wall in pieces, according to an arrest report. A damaged silver Mercury SUV was parked haphazardly in the driveway. 

Inside, Joseph Loprete, 48, sat on the couch. His wife was in the bathroom crying hysterically.

"Put me in cuffs, take me to jail, let's go," Loprete allegedly told police, according to a police report. 

Loprete was arrested on charges of DUI property damage, aggravated assault and criminal mischief, records show. 

He reportedly told police he drove the SUV into the house because he was jealous and wanted to get back at his wife. No one was hurt. 

His wife, who is not being identified, told police her husband got angry at her when she was playing the guitar with two men at a party earlier that day. Loprete had been drinking at the party and began to fight with her. 

The couple was still arguing as he drove home with her and four of their children. Loprete stayed behind as his wife and children went inside. 

"I was with the kids and I heard a boom. Then I saw the car in the living room," his wife told police, the report said. 

Their two teenagers, a 4-year-old-son and a 2-year-old son were in a back room in the house. 

Officers at the scene said Loprete reeked of alcohol and was slurring his words. He refused a breath test and was arrested. 

Loprete was booked at the Palm Beach County jail and released on July 5 on $3,000 bail. 

He was charged with DUI and reckless driving in 2007, but the charges were dropped in December 2008, state records show. 

Loprete could not be reached for comment, despite an attempt by phone. 

His wife and children left the house Sunday night to stay with relatives because part of their house was boarded up. Boca Raton firefighters inspected the home and deactivated wires that became exposed in the living room after the crash. 

Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.