Last last month a resident of Burma Place in Palm Coast reported that someone had fired a .22 at the back of her 2001 Chevrolet S-10 pick-up, which was parked in her driveway. An investigation revealed that six shots were fired at or into the truck. Four shell casings were discovered in the roadway, but the shooter was never found.
Friday morning, Pavel Bolotnikov, 26, of 75 Riverview Bend South, between the Intracoastal and Palm Harbor Parkway, was arrested on charges of driving drunk, using a firearm while drunk, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The shooting took place within close range of homes.
Deputies said Bolotnikov fired several shots from his van as he drove along Riverview Bend in the gated community of Tidelands in Palm Coast around 2:30 Friday morning. Witnesses were able to give deputies a description of the Bolotnikov’s vehicle.
Bolotnikov was observed by deputies driving at an estimated speed of 50 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone on Longview Way. Deputies reported the man had a moderate odor of alcohol on his breath when they stopped him. A .45 caliber Ruger handgun was recovered from inside the vehicle along with ten spent shell casings.
“We were fortunate to have witnesses at such an early hour, and their help is appreciated. This man was taken off the road before he could harm anyone,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.
He was held in the Flagler County jail until he posted $1,000 bond.
Alex says
Gated communities will not provide security from people inside such gated community
Edward says
…or you could just walk around the gate.
Joe A. says
People like this is the exact reason why legal, law abiding citizens need to protect themselves. It is irresponsible of this absent minded jerk to recklessly discharge a weapon. It concerns me because what if this were during day light, when my family and I were out during our morning walk? Unbelievable!
Sherry Epley says
I know the gun totin’ members of the NRA are going to loudly disagree, but these incidents smack of what happens with almost zero gun control. More guns in the hands of irresponsible people, does not deter these kinds of shootings. . . lax gun control laws make more of them possible. Throw in too little enforcement of drug and alcohol laws, and you’ve got innocent people in harms way.
If we could trust our citizens, businesses, financial institutions, organizations, etc. to act responsibily, ethically, completely honestly, and with integrity for the common good, we wouldn’t need tough law enforcement and bureaucratic regulation. . . AKA government. Unfortunately those “old fashioned” character traits are long gone from our culture, if they truly ever existed on a mass scale.
I personally miss the days of the Brady Bill and much stricter gun regulation. I slept better in those nights. Sure hardened criminals will always find a way to get weapons. BUT, the perps of these kinds of shootings are usually not, and will not become hardened criminals. . . that is until they have had the benefit (NOT) of being behind bars for drinking too much and having a gun much too handy.
Frank says
Here’s an idea, enforce the laws you have on the books now. No need to throw more useless gun control laws at the law abiding public. Get your immigrant problems under control and then you can sleep better at night again.
Sherry Epley says
While I personally believe that all immigrants to the US should be legal, if it weren’t for illegal immigrants, AKA conquerors/explorers , the only legal residents of the United States would be the American indians.
I suppose there are those that would label the perps described in this article as the “militia” whose gun ownership rights are protected by the 2nd amendment. At the risk of confusing everyone with facts, what follows are the (Wikipedia) gun regulations for the state of Florida. . . please, which ones actually prohibit gun ownership by irresponsible people?
Gun Laws in Florida
Subject/Law Long guns Handguns Relevant Statutes Notes
State Permit to Purchase? No No None
Firearm registration? No No None
“Assault weapon” law? No No None
Owner license required? No No None
Carry permits issued? No Yes Chapter 790.06 Concealed carry only; open carry not generally allowed, even with permit[67]
State Preemption of local restrictions? Yes Yes Chapter 790.33
NFA weapons restricted? No No None
Peaceable Journey laws? No No None Federal rules observed.
Open Carry? No No Chapter 790.053 Open Carry is generally banned with exceptions for Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Target Shooting, and at your own home.
Florida is a “shall issue” state, and issues concealed carry permits to both residents and non-residents.Vehicle carry without a permit is allowed either in a snapped holster in plain view, or when the firearm is concealed if the firearm is “securely encased”. “Securely encased” means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.[68] (Note: this legal condition is not the same as “encased securely.”) Vehicle carry without a permit is permitted when concealed even if it is not “securely encased” if the firearm is not “readily accessible”. Vehicle carry on one’s person inside a vehicle without a permit is not allowed.
Florida recognizes permits from any other state which recognizes Florida’s permit, provided the non-resident individual is a resident of the other state and is at least 21 years old.[69]
Open carry when on foot in a public area is generally not permitted, but is allowed in certain circumstances, as defined in Florida statute 790.25(3). For example, open carry is permitted while hunting, fishing, or camping, or while target shooting, or while going to or from such activities.[70] When hunting on private land, or on properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Division of Forestry, open carry is also permitted.
State preemption laws prohibit localities from regulating firearms, other than with regards to zoning laws (i.e., for restricting where gun sellers may locate their businesses.)
Firearm regulations are uniform throughout the state, and a carry permit is valid throughout the state, in all areas other than in a few specially-defined areas.
As of October 1, 2005, Florida became a “Stand-your-ground” state. The Florida law is a self-defense, self-protection law.
On July 1, 2008, A new statewide Florida law went into effect prohibiting most businesses from firing any employee with a Concealed Weapon License for keeping a legal firearm locked in their vehicle in the company parking lot. The purpose of the new law is to allow CWL holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights during their commutes to and from work. Exceptions listed in F.S. 790.251(7) include school property, correctional institutions, property where a nuclear-powered electricity generation facility is located, property upon which substantial activities involving national defense, aerospace, or homeland security are conducted, property upon which the primary business conducted is the manufacture, use, storage, or transportation of combustible or explosive materials, a motor vehicle owned/leased/rented by your employer, and any other property upon which possession of a firearm is prohibited pursuant to any federal law, contract with a federal government entity, or general law of Florida.
Florida law allows private firearm sales between residents without requiring any processing through an FFL. Florida law also permits larger municipalities to elect to require a concealed carry permit for a buyer to purchase a gun at a gun show from another private individual without any delay, but in practice, this applies only to a few of the largest municipalities (Miami, Orlando, etc.) where it has been invoked.
Elana Lee says
I don’t ever recall hearing of or reading about an NRA Member behaving this way.
palmcoaster says
Sherry, thank you so much for your very informative blog. I was unaware of many of these dangers thanks to Fl gun laws. No wonder these tugs go around random shooting and gun toting.
Regarding Eleana’s comment I would reply….Do you really believe that if any NRA member goes wacko shooting and killing innocent people, will be disclosed that “is an NRA Member” ? C’mon, some of us were borned at night “but not last night”.
NortonSmitty says
Hey, he really didn’t shoot at anybody or harm anybody. Just bowing off steam. I’ve seen this sort of thing happen hundreds of times in John Wayne and Hoppalong Cassidy flicks. What’s the big deal?
Jojo says
You’ll never know the deal when one goes through your door or window and hits you upside your head. It’s curtain time.
Frank says
If you don’t like Florid’s gun laws, interstate 95 runs north. Bye Bye !
Sherry Epley says
To Frank,
My ancestors/family have been residents of Florida since the 1600’s. . . and yours came here when? We are the responsible citizens who actively shape our world and community, by educating ourselves with FACTS and participating in the governing process. I’m quite sure most “intelligent” people value families such as mine, and consider us to be great assets in the culture of Florida and the USA.
Who should leave?
Someone Else says
Florida gun laws work fine the way they are, there is no reason why they would need to be tightned, it prevents convicted felons from purchasing firearms, aside from that you can’t legislate your way to figure out who may or may not do something stupid with the firearms afterwards, the individual gun store always have the right to turn down a sale if they suspect the person purchasing it might not be suited to own a firearm, which is something that happen quite frequently.
I know where this gun was bought and it was purchased legally, the BATF did not have a problem with him purchasing it, and I’m not sure but as far as I recall he is, or at least was a member of the NRA.
Bringing the immigration debate into this is completely irrelevant, it would be illegal for ANYONE to do this, it doesn’t matter if you are a citizen or a legal immigrant like he is.
Although he is a friend, or at least used to be, I am in no way defending his actions, what he did was irresponsible, dangerous and stupid not to mention it makes it harder on all the rest of us who are responsible gun owners, but the legal system will have to deal with it now, bickering about it in here will not change anything.
George says
Gun laws only prevent honest and law abiding people from purchasing them. More laws do not reduce crime anymore than more taxes reduce deficits in government. Sherry, in case you haven’t noticed; police officers and government officials commit crimes and arrested all of the time. Do you honestly believe that just because you are an elected official or law enforcement that you somehow become morally and ethically superior to the rest of us? We have a moral breakdown across the board in this country and it includes members of every branch of the government as well as ordinary citizens. Personal responsibility and enforcement of current laws is where this problem needs to be addressed first. I choose to own firearms and this is my right as an American. I have never committed a crime and handle firearms responsibly just as I do when I drive my car. If the people in this country need a parent to control their every move then we as a nation are through and we will become an impotent and disillusioned country like most of Europe has become. We need to stop looking to government to solve all of our problems and start acting on our own behalf.