A Coral Gables construction worker putting up barricades on a closed street was struck after a Rolls-Royce driver allegedly blew through the shutdown to get to the nearby Gables Whole Foods, police say. The driver is accused of pushing the worker out of the car’s path on the 1500 block of San Remo Avenue. Coral Gables police arrested 64-year-old Luis Urdaneta and charged him with aggravated battery.
What police say
Coral Gables Police say the confrontation unfolded just after 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 9. According to investigators, Urdaneta was behind the wheel of a two-toned Rolls-Royce and headed west in an eastbound lane as he approached a marked construction zone. Officers say he refused to turn around and instead "intentionally continued to drive forward, striking and pushing the victim." A witness snapped a photo of the car’s license plate and later picked Urdaneta out of a photo lineup, as reported by Local 10.
Arrest and court appearance
Officers later arrested Urdaneta at a Pine Drive home in unincorporated Ponce-Davis and booked him on an aggravated battery charge, according to The Miami Herald. In bond court, Judge Victoria Sigler found probable cause, set bond at $5,000, and ordered Urdaneta to stay away from the worker. The Herald reports he remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday morning.
Company ties
Urdaneta is listed as chairman and co-founder of MONAT, a Doral-based haircare and wellness company he launched with his son in 2014, according to the company’s "Meet the Team" page. The corporate profile emphasizes his public role in the multi-level marketing firm.
Legal context
Under Florida law, aggravated battery is a second-degree felony, defined in Fla. Stat. §784.045, and carries potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison. To secure a conviction, prosecutors must show the defendant intentionally caused great bodily harm or used a deadly weapon. Courts sometimes treat objects used to inflict harm, including vehicles in some cases, as "deadly weapons" when that element is at issue, according to commentary from Florida defense attorneys at Howeller Law.
What’s next
Coral Gables police have not released further details while investigators continue reviewing the case. Local 10 reports it has asked MONAT for comment and plans to update its coverage as the case moves through the court system.
