Late the afternoon of Nov. 11 Samuel Higgins and a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy had an encounter on Upsala Place in Palm Coast. Higgins, 32, was walking along the street with a woman he called his fiancée, though the woman looked “visibly shaken and nervous” to the deputy.
She told a different story to the deputy: she wasn’t Higgins’s fiancée, wasn’t even dating him. Rather, he’d allegedly forced his way into the house where she was stating and even kicked in the door to her bedroom, threatening to kill himself if she didn’t take him home. There was another woman in the house when the altercation happened, along with three young children, the youngest being 3: none of them had any idea who Higgins was, and for all they knew they were witnessing a home invasion.
Higgins, who’d been released from state prison just weeks earlier after an 11-year sentence, was charged with burglary.
At the jail he threatened to kill himself. A rescue was sent to the jail. He refused transport to the hospital. When the rescue left, he complained again of medical issue. A rescue was sent again. He was taken to Florida Hospital Flagler, where he refused treatment.
While there, a criminal history revealed that Higgins has an extensive one, with convictions from Brevard, Marion and Citrus counties on charges including arson, robbery, criminal mischief, and eight charges of battery on law enforcement officers or detention officers.
One of the charges for which he was convicted, and served prison: throwing fluids at jail guards.
That would be a hint of problems to come.
On Monday, a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the Flagler County jail to speak with corrections deputy Ian Christensen. Christensen, hired at the jail in 2015, two weeks ago was one of the three deputies who, along with inmates, helped pulled Tyrone Oxendine, a 37-year-old inmate, from a railing from which he was trying to hang himself.
Christensen had been assigned to directly observe Higgins, likely because of Higgins’s history of suicide threats. When the inmate woke up, he asked about everyone’s whereabouts. Christensen informed Higgins that everyone was in the next room. Higgins then got angry, repeating the question and lacing it with racially-tinged expletives (Higgins is black, Christensen is white). Christensen told him not to use that tone with him or he wouldn’t be helped, prompting another salvo of insults.
But then the insults allegedly turned to threats. Higgins told Christensen that if he saw him in the street he’d knock him out and he’d never see it coming. Christensen told him he was sorry Higgins felt that way. Higgins said he’d track down the deputy’s house and vehicle and destroy both (no idle threats coming from a convicted arsonist). Then came the threats about fluids: “You know I’m going to throw blood on you, and know what, I’m also going to throw shit on you, don’t think I won’t.”
Christensen asked the inmate what he’d done to offend the inmate, to which Higgins replied that he was going to force the deputy and members of his family to service him sexually and orally, though he—the inmate—then quickly yelled that “I’m no homosexual.”
It was then that Higgins allegedly threw a liquid at the deputy’s face and torso. The liquid had been in a paper cup. The threats continued, with Higgins allegedly threatening to have his brother kill the deputy’s family. After the inmate was secured by other guards, Christensen went off to seek medical attention, not knowing what the liquid was.
Higgins, a resident of 807 Hymon Circle in Bunnell, was facing two felony counts for burglary with assault. He now faces an additional count of felony battery on a law enforcement officer, and because he is a prior offender released from prison less than three years ago, a conviction could severely increase his prison sentence.
Freddy says
This guy need to be put away for a long time.
Mark says
Why is he out and about? How many times does it take for the justice system to wake up? The justice system is obviously broke!
Mark101 says
listen up people, this is the kind of person with some mental instability that will hurt someone.
Trash can says
Okay, so how did he find Flagler County?
Jenn says
He needs to be put away and solitary confinement and get medical help it appears he is mentally unstable I hope the officer did not catch any thing from this idiot
Hunter says
I can only imagine how many kids out there he has spawned that taxpayers are paying for. If I was an officer and he threatened anyone but me, especially family, I probably would be on my way to jail with him. He is the type that likes jails, 3 meals, gym, in house producer of rap, jail house hustle, etc. I did “Extensive” research on people like this for a book I wrote. Now that he has had “time down”, he considers himself an O.G. (Original Gangsta) when he goes back. He is going back I hope! He will never change, he will become even more violent. The closest thing to punishment he will receive is solitaire confinement, which some are trying to outlaw. This guy WILL kill someday.
ConstantlyAmazed says
Another “HUMAN TIMEBOMB” slowly ticking. I’m getting that “deja vu” feeling again. Oh well I guess society will find another scapegoat to blame instead of this guy when he finally EXPLODES.
Really says
Hes a real tough guy. dirtbag rot in your cell
Bc. says
Lock this POS up so he never gets out what happened to 3 strikes your out life in prison for this fine citizen
Richard says
How many more times will he be allowed to assault law enforcement before he is put away for good, 20, 50, 100? You people just don’t GET IT!
Trailer Bob says
How on earth is this monster moron allowed to walk the streets? Talk about a time bomb. Then when he kills someone with a gun the rest of us will get blamed…you know…us “gun nuts”.
FlaglerBear says
I genuinely fear. I fear for the lives and safety of the men and women of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department and any other agency including medical facilities that have to deal with this biological hazard of a minimal so called “human.” It troubles me to refer to him that way but it is what it is…He has trained himself to be and act in a certain way in order to get the most fear and shock out of his victims, whether it be citizens or law enforcement, and apparently it’s working just fine for him. It’s going to escalate to a point where he’ll get his hands on a weapon and either he or an INNOCENT person will die or be seriously impacted. Now it’s up to the SYSTEM to step up to ensure this won’t happen. Will they? Again! Time…will… tell….
Anonymous says
Sounds like a stone-cold psychopath. If anybody needs to be put away and held in close confinement, it’s this dude.
Really says
Why hasnt anyone taken this punk out back of the woodshed and Givin him the asswhooping he needs once and for all
Anonymous says
Big dummy, he’s a loser that needs to stay in prison. #meathead
MannyHMo says
An attack on a police officer or deputy is an attack on the community.
Why is he on a revolving door of prison – community – court – prison – community ?
Is he really using his brother as a weapon ? That should be confronted.
He is probably equally mental as well as criminal.
Bottom line is he is a danger to society.