Just after 1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 1), an individual near the Pam Coast Pharmacy at 9 Pine Cone Drive flagged down a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy to inform him that the glass front door to the business had been smashed out.
The pharmacy, which was unoccupied, had been the target of a robbery: drugs–controlled substances–were later determined to have been stolen. A perimeter was established and a K-9 unit arrived on scene. The woman who’d initially flagged down the deputy had not seen the incident take place, nor had the owner of a massage therapy business next door.
The pharmacy’s owner was contacted and was at the scene shortly. So was Crime Scene Investigator Laura Pazarena.
At the same time, detectives from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office were in Flagler, following up on an armed robbery in St. Johns, with leads–and warrants–that took them to Palm Coast. That robbery had taken place at a CVS pharmacy late the previous evening, at 11 p.m.
The warrants the investigators had in hand, signed by Circuit County Judge J. Michael Traynor on Feb. 1, were for Daniel Garrett Lindsey, 29, and Matthew Dalton Barker, 27. Both live at 72 Leidel Drive in Palm Coast. Barker had one previous arrest in Flagler, just last month, for shoplifting and obstructing justice. Lindsey has been booked at the jail eight times since 2008, including for shoplifting the same day as Barker in January. He’s also been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft, carrying a concealed weapon, narcotics possession, disorderly intoxication and driving on a suspended license.
Both men were arrested Saturday and charged with the armed robbery in St. Augustine. Following their arrests, the two subjects were brought to the Investigative Services Division offices and questioned regarding the burglary of the Palm Coast pharmacy, a sheriff’s release states. Detectives say the two men will face additional charges in connection with that robbery.
Both were taken to the St. John’s County jail where they are being held on $250,000 bond.
“This was a tremendous cooperative effort between both agencies that has resulted in the arrest
of two individuals who may have eventually hurt someone had they not been caught as quickly
as they were,” Sheriff Jim Manfre said.
Genie says
“This was a tremendous cooperative effort between both agencies that has resulted in the arrest
of two individuals who may have eventually hurt someone had they not been caught as quickly
as they were,” Sheriff Jim Manfre said.
Question for Sheriff Manfre: How many times do you plan on arresting them before they receive stiffer sentences?
These two are career criminals, they are not going to stop.
rhweir says
The house is in foreclosure according to the official records on the court website. Palm Coast, what can you say? If they thought it was bad before, they are really in for some bad times now.
A.S.F. says
“Question for Sheriff Manfre: How many times do you plan on arresting them before they receive stiffer sentences?” Answer: I suppose he can only arrest them as many times as they commit crimes. The sentences these two (and others) receive are not up to Sheriff Manfre or his department. The sentences are the responsibilities of the courts–most specifically, judges and juries determine verdicts and sentences, based on the evidence presented and the judge’s discretion. Perhaps, Genie, you might direct your question to the court system instead f the police. I am very concerned, myself, on recent issues concerning low bonds and plea bargains. Sometimes, there seems to be no rhyme or reason.
confidential says
I saw the commotion when it started and I went around that area twice making sure from faraway distance like the Post Office parking and the Walgreens parking areas that our deputies in like about 3 to 5 cruisers spread around the area were safe. Good job of our Sheriff. The Sheriff obligation is to arrest them their sentencing is up to the judges in court to send then to prison and length of time. Is not the Sheriff fault if these criminals are let go with a slap in the wrist.
Unfortunately with our economy still in shambles robberies will increase, I believe.
anonymous says
First of all these two young men had continuing legal issues when Flemming was in office not Manfre. If I remember correctly Manfre was on the road to heading off the pill epidemic that these two brothers group up in: in this community. There is a sickness in this town of prescription drugs the sooner the government gets it and understands it the better. This is how most of these pill addicts end up if not worse.
Jolynn says
Tic & Tac…Fric & Frac …. Dumb & Dumber these scumbags come in many names but are all the same !!
Kurt says
It drives me mad that the first comment from “Genie” (however well intentioned) has more thumbs up than the rest. It really shows how ill advised our public is. Like several of the other comments with less “thumbs up” said after his/hers, judgment and sentencing are NOT up to the sheriff…this is for the courts to hash out. There aren’t enough prisons to house all the inmates….but that’s a different story.
ted bundy says
the courts are way too soft
Genie says
@ Kurt: Your comment is excellent and right on target. However, I wouldn’t take the number of thumbs up as a sign of ignorance from the readers. We all know the courts are too soft on this, we can see that.
Bear with me here for a moment….perhaps someone could enlighten the readers here on the process for establishing these sentences? I think that most of us know it’s not up to the Sheriff. In fact, I think many of us worry that the drug issue here is not being enforced by the Sheriff at times because he knows they will be back out on the streets by the end of the current business day. Sometimes he must feel like: What’s the use if he’s going to be out right away? Is this about crime or is it a business for the state? Valid question.
“For the courts to hash out” is not what I had in mind. Does the Sheriff have any input at all into this process? If he doesn’t, who does? Who is it who decides that when crimes are increasing the sentence might not be stiff enough?
Mary Cannady says
Yes the economy is poor, but regardless these criminals are looking for drugs and drug money. i doubt it is to pay the rent. IMO
Enlightened says
I thought the State Attorney’s Office is the one who deals with these scrum bags. They and the attorneys are the ones responsible for the deals that these pieces of ga ga get. I hope you all sleep well at night knowing they are back out on the streets.
JG says
First, we kill all the lawyers…? Wait till you need one.
Anonymous says
Really Ted? You ever get arrested in Florida? Bad joke.
Anonymous says
Sheriff does not give sentences. That is the job of the judge if the jury finds these suspects guilty. That is how our criminal justice system works.
Jack. Howell says
I would hope and trust that law enforcement did their job by the book so the the Defense Attorney’s have no wiggle room for plea bargains. The State Attorney needs to nail these guys and hopefully won’t do the plea bargain route so his number of convictions looks good for reelection! Personally, too bad Mr. Glock did not end their spree and cut taxpayers costs for the trial and prison costs.
amyW says
Not true about both men having continued legal issues or being part of a group.
Drug addiction is a sIckness, Maybe instead of filling up our jails offer some sort of rehab for the reg folks who can’t afford $50 K rehab.
Rachel says
Please be a little more compassionate for the poor parents whose son has turned to drugs. I read this and get sad and say to myself “what makes 2 handsome young guys do something crazy like this?” DRUGS.
I can’t believe how nasty some of you are. I hope none of your kids get messed up on drugs.
There is a drug epidemic in this country and it’s sons, daughters, mothers, fathers etc. Because of this economy people have turned to over medicating. Watch the news, read the papers. Be compassionate.
Big Boss Man says
Cops are blind in PC. I know a guy that owned irrigation company in PC and sold pills and shot em up outside of jobs. Drove all over place speeding illegally on motorcycle and some poor lady hit him and he sued her and got 75k. He looks like red headed crack head now. Still deals. Put father into poor house. Pulled gun on family. Still around! Why? I worked on and off for him and father for years on and off. Strange huh?
Kurt says
@Genie: The Sheriff, I suppose, COULD in theory walk into the State Attorney’s Office and demand that this case be taken more seriously than other cases. He COULD demand that this particular case be a focal point of the State Attorney’s Office, sure. Would this be ethical? I guess that would have to do with the Sheriff’s motive in doing this.
IF the Sheriff or his designee could articulate to Ben Fox or R.J Larizza why this particular case is more important to the safety and well being of Flagler’s citizens, than others of its kind, then I suppose it would be worth doing, and he may do so.
Here’s the thing. The media for one reason or another, doesn’t always get ahold of all such cases. I’ve heard of horrible, atrocious cases go almost completely unnoticed by the media (and therefore the general public) because of…well, you name it, timing, something crazy (read: more newsworthy) going on simultaneously at the same time, etc. I recall an incident in which news of a plane crash broke about the same time as a very serious and in my opinion newsworthy crime. I recall thinking that no one would ever hear about it, and I was right. Point being, just because the media never really got ahold of that, it doesn’t mean that the Sheriff didn’t do his job and see that it was handled the “right way”. So in the eyes of the public, it might as well never even have happened, even though the culprits received very harsh (and IMO well deserved) sentences.
Sometimes, you never hear about, let’s say, one of Flagler County’s then most notorious drug dealers “Ruffy” and his cohorts getting 20-30 years each for a robbery of a pharmacy in Ormond a few years back. If I recall, this publication may have even done a story on it.
You may agree or disagree with the Sheriff from time to time, but the bottom line is, he does NOT want crime in his county, because that’s what his success is ultimately (fair or not) measured by. Sometimes, you gotta just realize that while the evidence to support an arrest is there, the evidence to support a conviction simply is not there. This CAN be the fault of an lousy investigator, a lousy responding officer, a lousy prosecutor, a great defense attorney, or no one at all, it’s just how the chips land sometimes. The variables are truly endless.
Hope this helps explain a bit.
Geezer says
Someone help! Today my Tinnitus abated but was replaced by Mick Jagger singing “Far Away Eyes.”
It all began when I looked at the mugshots above.
Thanks FlaglerLive, but I want my Tinnitus back.
A.S.F. says
@Rachel says–I do feel sorry for the families of these men and I hope and pray for their, and their sons’, sakes that they are not enabling them in any way. Unfortunately, and sadly, that means letting these young men face the full consequences of their actions. Addicts can turn their lives around but many do not until they “hit bottom.” If you really want to help the families of these men, please advise them to attend Nar-Anon/Al-anon meetings. If their loved ones also suffer from mental health issues, there are also supports available for family members through NAMI and DRADA. I hope everyone heals and no one else ends up getting hurt.
Genie says
@ Kurt – Thanks for taking the time to respond. It does help.