Capers J. McClendon, 26, of 1103 Lincoln Street in Bunnell, was released from prison just last month after he was sentenced on cocaine, fleeing and battery charges. He’d also served two years in prison for trafficking drugs six years ago. He is on probation.
On Tuesday, he was back at the Flagler County jail on five felony charges and three misdemeanors, including a first-degree felony charge of armed burglary and another charge of fleeing and eluding after he allegedly led law enforcement on a chase on U.S. 1 and State Road 100 in Bunnell.
The incident began Tuesday afternoon when a 48-year-old resident of Palm Coast had driven to the Riverside Apartments on South Pine Street and East Booe Street in Bunnell to meet someone so she could retrieve a jacket she’d left there. She was driving east on East Booe from U.S. 1 when, according to McClendon’s arrest report, “a tall black male wearing a Covid-19 face mask, red hat, red t-shirt, red shorts and red shoes jumped into her 2007 Kia Sedona minivan,” asked for a ride, and “brandished a knife located inside his waistband.”
The woman said the man did not threaten her with the knife, but that she was in fear for her life from the sight of it. “I’ll hook you up when we are done driving around” he told her, telling her to get out and saying she should wait for him on East Booe Street. He then pushed her over–she’d been standing by the driver’s side–and drove off as she yelled at him. Bystanders told her the man was known around town as “Carpus.”
That was around 3:30 p.m. The alleged victim reported the minivan stolen to the sheriff’s office and authorities sent out a stolen-vehicle alert. At about 5:30 p.m., a sheriff’s deputy s[potted the stolen vehicle on U.S. 1, driving south toward Bunnell. McClendon was alone at the wheel. He was driving slowly and entered Thunder Gulch campground, turned around then drove north on U.S. 1. When a deputy activated emergency lights to pull him over, McClendon “began to travel in a reckless manner attempting to evade and elude law enforcement,” his arrest report states.
The deputy deactivated his lights since McClendon was being reckless and the department has policies that require deputies to desist from chases in many instances for safety reasons. McClendon kept driving, but another deputy had deployed stop sticks at U.S. 1 and State Road 100, striking at least one of the tires, but not enough to disable the vehicle. At that point several deputies and Bunnell Police Department officers activated or re-activated their sirens and lights. The minivan kept going into South Bunnell and the Housing Authority neighborhood.
The vehicle was abandoned in the 300 block of South Peach Street, but a deputy spotted McClendon running into 405 South Bacher. Authorities established a perimeter around the property, and not long afterward, McClendon came out and surrendered.
Interviewed by law enforcement at the jail, McClendon said the alleged victim reported the vehicle stolen because she was upset about running out of “dope,” and the reason he himself fled, he alleged, was because he had to relieve himself and defecate, though he used fewer syllables to say so. When asked why he drove so erratically, he asked if he struck anyone.
A check of his record revealed to authorities that he was on probation, at least until June 23, had five driver’s license suspensions, the latest dating back to 2017. He was booked at the Flagler County jail on charges that also included drug possession (he is alleged to have been in the possession of ecstasy).
Bond was set at $76,500. He remains at the county jail.
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Richard says
So much for any reputable claims that inmates are rehabilitated while in prison. I guess these career criminals find that life inside prison is better than on the outside. Why not just get it over and give these people life without parole. That would reduce the number of victims having nightmares for the rest of their lives.
PC Citizen says
What a Caper! Good Job once again FCSO!
ASF says
That bond amount is obviously too low. This guy is intent on committing crimes, regardless of the consequences, to himself or anybody else.
hawkeye says
He is typical of our revolving door justice system, when is this guy going to be put away like he should be?
C’mon man says
This is the same guy who many many years ago crashed on a stolen scooter into a restaurant in bunnell. He died several times but was revived. He will never learn and be productive in the community.
Weldon B. Ryan says
I’ve heard better stories from a 6 year old! Both the perpetrator and the victim know each other obviously because of the drug community they are affilated with. As for rehabilitation that this kid must have had while incarcerated; have these white privileged commentors of this article been asleep these past few weeks. The prison industrial complex has a great jobs program for themselves and it’s not from this so called rehabilitation crap! What does this kid have to go back to on release? Fix this criminal justice system that value some and discard least privileged!
CB from PC says
Too many police.
If he had not been chased in the first place, this man would never have disobeyed the traffic laws.
We also need more port-o-san toilets along the roadways.
Seriously, thank you FCSO.
Othello says
Not making excuses for Capers, however he did suffer a traumatic brain injury in an accident as a youth, which affects his decision making among other things. Although, he’s a grown man his family has continually tried to help him. His relapse in judgment and action is due to him not fully recovering from the accident on top of not taking his prescribed medication but doing his own self medicating. Without stringent, mental health supervision this is what happens. Prison isn’t the answer for someone like him.
bonnie wright says
24 Felony’s since 2011 WTH
Local says
Was the woman arrested? Attempting to buy drugs is a crime also.
Maybe this guy can start a defund the police campaign lol….
Trailer Bob says
Maybe some of these criminals are feeling emboldened by the effects of all the recent protests and what has become the new mantra of “it’s all the white man’s fault” culture. Sorry…but not my fault. But I can tell you that back in my earlier days, if you broke the law there were consequences and you actually got time in jail and also actually did that time.
Harout says
The reason they are not rehabilitated is because they are treated like caged animals without learning anything to improve themselves or learning any trade to find a job when they get out the prison is not concerned what they are going to do when they get out actually they want them back job security when you put a man on the streets with nowhere to go and fifty dollars in his pocket it’s a disaster to happen
Neighbor of Riverside Apartments says
No making excuses for him. But if she was at or leaving the Riverside Apartments on Booe Street. She wasn’t there to retrieve a jacket. Well known drug complex. My money says drug deal gone bad.
Palm Coast Resident says
Thank you for this insight.
Here We Go Again says
Everyone has a choice to behave the right way or wrong way. It is not the prison systems job to train this person to act like a law abiding citizen. His parents failed him but everyone has a choice to act right or not. He doesn’t want to act right and deserves to go back to living in a cage. Stop victimizing criminals! You say this until one day you are a victim of a crime and I guarantee you will be wanting that person to receive due process.
Here We Go Again says
You say he deserves to be treated better until one day you’re the victim of a crime. If you were robbed at gunpoint or a family member was murdered by a career criminal would you still pushing for prison reform??? Stop trying to turn these scumbags into victims!!!!! When you’re not held accountable for your actions and consistently released from jail for crimes, they keep doing it. It’s the same thing with a child. If you don’t hold a child accountable for being disobedient then guess what they doing bad things!!!!
Charlie F Ericksen says
Too bad you are not aware of the Counciling, educational and training programs provided at the Jail..There are paying jobs also that help an criminal get an early release Also, let’s not forget the free healthcare, all paid for by the taxpayers in Flagler ….Free laundry and meals !!
Beacon says
His lapse in judgement is due to his brain injury….he was committing a crime when he suffered his brain injury….so what’s your next theory/excuse? 24 felonies??? When do we just put people like this away for life finally? So much for the quality of life of all the law abiding citizens of our community.
ASF says
@Othello–Unfortunately, too many people who are prone to take risks are susceptible to incurring Brain Injuries as a result of their conduct. This man may need intervention but he is choosing the direction that his life is taking. I have worked with people who have greatly diminished capacity. For all their challenges, most of the individuals I have worked with do not choose to lead a life of crime. One does not automatically equate or lead to the other. If this man needs help, I hope he can get it and will accept it. But if he chooses to lead a criminal lifestyle, his challenges do not give him a right to hurt others, even his choices hurt himself. A disability is not an automatic and literal “Get out of jail free” card.
Othello says
At the time Capers was a kid riding a dirt bike. How many of you locals rally around Mr. Trevor Blumfield? https://flaglerlive.com/60994/smith-blumenfeld-shooting-arrests/
He was a local drug dealer, dealing drugs and was shot and paralyzed in a botched drug deal. But you guys celebrate him, having fundraisers on the beach for him. Your selective criticism/memory is evident in your keep it moving with your boys will be boys mentality when it comes to someone that looks like you. Your comment wreaks of bias.
Othello says
I hope you and the rest of the “upstanding citizens” commenting remember your tough on crime callous comments, when you get popped for a DUI or medications the local population here is known to heavily misuse. Or perhaps have a mental breakdown where the police get involved. See how you like navigating through the red tape of the Judicial system then. It seems like the people that champion the laws of the land have the most dirt to hide.
Steve says
His continuous poor choices throughout his life have put this individual in the situation. Prison isnt camp. Do the crime do the time.
Steve says
28 Felonies you are preaching to the choir. no excuse
America Rinaldi says
Why are all white people considered privileged? If you have missed meals and had holes in your shoes you’re not privileged. Stop pre judging people because of their color. Sound familiar? Jeesh!!
Othello says
No one is talking to you. By the way he wasn’t convicted of 28 Felonies. State Attorney’s office can charge whatever they want, doesn’t and didn’t mean the chargers stuck.
Idiot says
“Paying jobs” where they do the same work as your average working class citizen or factory worker and get paid cents on the dollar.
Rehabilitating inmates only works if the rehabilitation programs are funded well and if they aren’t looked over like every other part of Florida’s legal and mental health systems. Sure, he’s not innocent, but the assumption that “his parents failed him” is a little bit of a bold statement.