It was almost 3 a.m. this morning (May 18) when Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy Michael Bolling detected a vehicle with a partially obscured tag–though not so obscured that he wasn’t able to track down the vehicle’s owners, both of whom were shown to have no valid driver’s license. The deputy tried to pull over the 2019 black Jeep Wrangler at Belle Terre Parkway and Pritchard Drive in Palm Coast. As Bolling activated his patrol car’s emergency lights, the Jeep took off speeding.
Bolling did not know at the time that the person at the wheel of the Jeep was a 14-year-old girl, a student at Flagler Palm Coast High School and a resident of President Lane in Palm Coast’s P-Section. She also had no driver’s license.
The girl accelerated away from the deputy, turning on to Whiteview Parkway eastbound. Bolling deactivated his emergency lights and followed the Jeep at distance. When the Jeep turned onto Princeton Lane, another deputy picked up a line of sight on it on Pine Tree Lane and followed from a distance.
Dash-cam video of the pursuit shows the Jeep speeding through the P-Section’s residential streets, seemingly blowing through stop signs but maintaining control and showing no sign that the driver was inexperienced. (See the video below.)
Deputies deployed stop sticks at the Pine Grove Drive and Belle Terre intersection. The stop sticks worked, damaging the vehicle’s right rear tire: as soon as the girl turned right at the intersection, heading northbound (without stopping at the stop sign), she either realized that the tire had blown or swerved into the east shoulder of Belle Terre Parkway. She drove a brief distance on the concrete sidewalk, then complied with commands to show her hands, throw the keys out the window, open the door, and stop away from the car. The girl appeared barefoot, in shorts.
Deputies then conducted a felony stop, ordering the driver out of the vehicle. She had a passenger–a 15-year-old boy.
Deputies confirmed the girl’s identity through a previous incident involving law enforcement. The girl’s father was contacted. The girl was placed under arrest for driving without a license and for fleeing and eluding law enforcement–a felony. Both juveniles were later released to their parents’ custody, with charges against the girl forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office.
“These kids thought they could go out for a joy ride and then flee from our deputies,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying in a release. “Parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing all the time. This time the parents only have to buy a new tire but trying to evade the law enforcement is dangerous to everyone involved. Our deputies did a great job to safety stop this joy ride. I hope she can learn from this experience and get on the right path to be a law abiding teenager.”
Name (required) says
We’ve afforded our young generation far too much freedom and ability to not conform to social and civil norms by allowing them to live on their phones in an alternate lifestyle dreamworld that doesn’t actually exist. This kids’ social media accounts likely give ZERO indication at any level that she’s just a 14 year old child. They’re “so grown,” and parents have no control over the communications that shape their mindsets. Stories like this make me happy I don’t have a teenager to raise in 2020. Turn your head for even a minute and they become Misfits in an instant. 3am, huh? Jeez. Get it together, all of you.
Land of no turn signals says says
Will be out doing the same thing next week because there is no repercussions.Future of America.SAD.
hawkeye says
sounds like the parents are doing a hell of a job with this kid! Has a previous incident with law enforcement and is known to the law at 14 years old.
Claire says
Shame on these police! Are they seriously pursueing high speed chases in our residential neighborhoods !? Putting citizens at risk?! Over what? A traffick stop!? Stop high speed pursuits in our city limits!!
Concerned Citizen says
My parents always said nothing good comes from being out after 10pm.
I guess times sure have changed because My parents kept pretty close eye on us even while both were working. And then after mom decided to go to Nursing school she worked and took classes. And still knew what we were doing. Heck growing up the neighborhood parents had an intelligence gathering service that rivaled CIA. Often times our parents knew we messed up before we got home. LOL
This girl does not need mental health counseling.She did not make a mistake. She made a poor choice She does not need a break to show her that next time could be worse. She knowingly took that jeep out to impress a boy and knew right from wrong. And put a lot of people at risk in doing what she did. There’s no need to sugar coat it. Let’s start holding these young people responsible for their actions.
As someone who spent 6 years in Law Enforcement then retired from Fire Rescue I have seen many of these incidents not end well. I hope the DA will reflect long and hard. And then make the appropriate decision to charge the girl accordingly. And then we can only hope a judge sentences accordingly as well.
Sorry not sorry if that sounds cold. She made adult decisions and needs adult consequences.
ASF says
They released this girl to her parents’ custody???
Great move–They sound like fit guardians to me–especially given that, at such a young age she is a repeat offender.
CB from PC says
Sounds like responsible parents must lock up their vehicle remotes/keys in addition to firearms.
Dad, didn’t you learn last time?
Doug Cook says
Claire, you are spot on, someone is going to die, if this is standard procedure. I would like to see the sheriffs response…
Joe dolan says
The bigger risk would be letting whatever is driving the vehicle to get away from or go commit a heinous crime.
Arie says
Parents shouldn’t have to keep keys/remotes up they should of get the little girl in custody. Kids see other do stupid shit and then try and be cool and do something stupid they need to stop releasing kids to their parents when the crime serious. I get there my minors but if they see the real consequences now and see how long they’ll be in their even if it’s 48 hrs
C’mon man says
They weren’t pursuing anyone. The Jeep was goin 40 and the patrol car was clearly well behind them. Reality check Claire, maybe you should blame the culprits and not the cops
Edward L Stark says
“partially obscured tag–though not so obscured that he wasn’t able to track down the vehicle’s owners”. What kind of bullshit double talk is that? I wish they would be honest at least ONE time in their lives and just say, “we pulled her/him over because we might luck upon an actual crime”.
TR says
Did you not read the article. They stopped chasing this defiant child and followed from a distance. Not to mention it was 3am and how many people were on the streets at that time? Glad they caught her and now they need to make her face the consequences of her actions and should also punch the parents.
genius says
Really Claire, this is high speed? Its more of a risk for this juvenile to continue driving illegally than for a cop to pursue her from a 100 feet distance, going a maximum speed of 45 mph. You also imply that this is a common occurrence, which is false. How is this putting citizens at risk? It was not over a traffic stop, the owners of the vehicles did not posses valid drivers licenses. Everything you say is false and obscured, open your eyes.
amazed says
let’s say they just robbed your house and took your kid hostage. Should the police not chase them over 30 mph and let them get away?
Why is it always the cops fault?
Did you know Ted Bundy was caught by a traffic stop?
Name (required) says
Even more than strong parenting, a strong sense of community is all these youths need. A place to be groomed toward excellence, by following example.
Ann Hartley says
The police handled this situation flawlessly great job guys and thank you .
Honest Truth says
Can sosmeone tell me why a 14 year old girl is out at 3:00 am? I also think DCF should be asking her parents the same question?
Whathehck? says
You are so right Claire, Doug and Edward,
The cop was evil for doing his job, turning his roof lights off not to aggravate the situation and the girl was so responsible by driving underage, without a license and she was protecting citizens by driving through several stop signs.
ASF says
One hopes that they did a TOX screen on this girl AND her 15 year old friend to see what substances they might be ingesting. These kids need help. And they are not getting it at home.
N.J. says
Claire, I’m sure you would put yourself or your family at risk by walking in the middle of the street at 3am. but I don’t know what you would want them to do, let the criminal go after evading a traffic stop because “muh neighborhood safety” is more important than catching the bad guy.
genius says
hmm wonder what she’s doing out with a boy her age at 3 am. doesn’t take a genius to put 2 and 2 together bud. unbelievable how uninformed and oblivious older generations are.
palmcoaster says
I believe this to be a daily issue as I am awaken day and late night by the noise of whether cars with open mufflers or motorcycles roaring at high speed in PC Parkway and FPD at least as per my house located off Club House Drive. These out of control individuals not matter their age are murderers at the steering wheel and a tragedy upon innocent people waiting to happen at anytime. Excellent work of our sheriff deputies and thank you! Bad laws we have with these kids released to their (oblivious parenting discipline) parents as she already had issues with law enforcement.
hawkeye says
when I was out at 3 am when I was 14 it was all about drugs, alcohol ,and sex and that was 50 years ago! Except I wasnt dumb enough to get caught!
CB from PC says
And the person who dies will be as a result of being hit by the Jeep running Stop signs. Tired of people making excuses for lawbreakers whether minor or major felony. All of you who do should get a job in counseling for the rehabilitation of these victims of society.
CB from PC says
I was being sarcastic. These kids all know who goes to jail should “old school” punishment be dished out.
wthck#2 says
@Whathehck LOL! Love it!
The Shark says
Nothing good happens after midnight. Good job by Law Enforcement.
Eric says
Future ‘Uber Driver’ for Joe Mullins maybe ?
Mary Fusco says
Name, since when is it a community’s job to raise children? I Raised 4 and they were groomed toward excellence by my husband and I. By the age of 3 they knew that there were consequences to their actions, both good and bad. They certainly were not known to law enforcement at ANY age. I have 5 grandchildren. 2 are graduating from college this year and one from high school. The other 2 are still in high school and college. Their parents are grooming them. It is a trickle down effect. Sadly today, parents are opting out of parenting because they are too busy doing their own thing. They seem to think that it is day care’s responsibility, the schools’s responsibility or anyone who will take them on. This brat could have hit another car and killed someone. That is the bottom line. Parents (if you can call them that) need to wake up.