Immediately after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state would soon designate the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) a domestic terrorist organization, the Muslim civil rights advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging that designation as unconstitutional and are calling for an injunction to halt its enforcement.
Cops/Courts
Bryan Jackson, Deputy Who’d Accidentally Shot 11-Year-Old Boy, Resigns Ahead of Internal Affairs Sanctions
Bryan Jackson, the Flagler County sheriff’s deputy who took responsibility for firing a rifle bullet that accidentally grazed the neck of an 11-year-old neighbor boy last year, resigned today, effective July 15, just as the Sheriff’s Office was completing an internal affairs investigation that found him to have violated two policies.
Truck Driver and Pedestrian Killed in Separate Crashes Within 35 Minutes on SR100 and in Palm Coast
Three unrelated morning crashes in Palm Coast and Flagler County killed two people and hospitalized two others ahead of a record holiday travel weekend. A minivan struck an elderly pedestrian on Pine Lakes Parkway just before 8 a.m. A logging truck collision on State Road 100 killed the semi driver and injured a pickup driver a little after 8 a.m.. The Sheriff’s Office is deploying extra holiday traffic enforcement.
Name-Clearing Hearing for Fired Flagler Beach Fire Chief Cox Exposes Deep Divisions And Lack Of Documentation
A Flagler Beach Personnel Review Board recessed a name-clearing hearing for fired fire chief Stephen Cox without reaching a decision. City Manager Dale Martin terminated Cox on May 11 after seven department members signed a no-confidence letter. Hearing testimonies revealed a glaring lack of documented evidence supporting the abrupt termination. Acting Chief Jennifer Fiveash testified extensively about her loss of trust in Cox’s flawed leadership.
Michael Struhar, Owner of Sunshine State Contractor Services, Accused of Defrauding Homeowners of $40,000
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested contractor Michael Struhar for grand theft after he allegedly took a $40,000 deposit from a local couple and performed no work. Investigation subpoenas revealed Struhar spent the funds on personal online auctions and Zelle payments. Authorities believe there are additional victims in the region and urge defrauded consumers to contact the sheriff’s non-emergency line.
Bunnell Pride Returns for 3rd Year Running Sunday to 2K Ranch, Misinformation and ‘Proud Boys’ Aside
The third annual Bunnell Pride event takes place Sunday at the 2K Ranch as Flagler County’s sole LGBTQ+ festival this year. Organizers face safety concerns following online misinformation and a rumored protest by the Proud Boys over a canceled drag performance, and a radio news clip that amplified the misinformation. The sheriff’s office will provide increased patrols.
Florida Kills Dusty Ray Spencer, 74, For Wife’s Murder in 1992; He Is Oldest Inmate to Be Executed in Modern Era
Dusty Ray Spencer was put to death by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison in Starke for his wife’s murder more than three decades ago in Orange County. Spencer, 74, became the oldest person put to death by the state in the modern era. Spencer had a violent history with his wife, Karen, before stabbing her to death in the backyard of their home on Jan. 18, 1992 in Orange County.
Army Recruit Faced Life in Prison for Raping Sibling. He Is Sentenced to Probation, No Adjudication, No Sex Offender Status.
A Palm Coast soldier indicted for raping his 10-year-old brother when he was himself 13 avoided prison after a negotiated plea deal that reduced the life-in-prison charge to child abuse, following requests from the family. Circuit Judge Howard Maltz sentenced the defendant to 10 years of sex-offender probation. Adjudication was withheld and Curtis was not designated a sex offender, allowing him to protect his military career.
Flagler Sheriff Solves 2003 Cold Case of Mary Lou Combs With Help From FBI Divers
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announced the resolution of a 22-year-old cold case after a submerged vehicle was recovered from the Intracoastal Waterway. The car contained human remains and personal items linked to Mary Lou Combs, a mother of three who disappeared in August 2003. A massive multi-agency effort involving FBI dive teams helped locate the wreckage, finally bringing long-awaited closure to her grieving family.
Victim Testifies On Behalf Of His Attacker Facing Life In Prison To Help Secure Bond, Saying Charges Were Exaggerated
A Flagler County judge granted 29-year-old Shantana Grayson a $66,500 bond following surprise testimony from her boyfriend, the alleged victim. Grayson faced five felony charges, including a charge punishable by life in prison and three counts of child neglect causing harm. Her victim and boyfriend testified that the domestic incident was exaggerated in the arrest report. The prosecutor left the decision to judicial discretion.
Armed Rape Added to Charges and Bond Denied in Man’s Alleged Attack of Ex as Defense Questions Victim’s Account
A circuit judge denied bond to Antonio Figueroa-Acevedo, 30, following the filing of a charge for the armed rape of his ex-girlfriend in Bunnell on June 12, among seven charges. Figueroa-Acevedo is a federal felon on probation. Four of his seven charges carry life sentences. The defense attorney questioned the victim’s account during the two-hour hearing even as the prosecution presented photos of the defendant at the scene and the victim’s injuries.
Violent Crime Is at Its Lowest in More than a Century. The Money that Helped Reduce It Is Disappearing
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century. Yet the Trump administration has yanked hundreds of millions of dollars from the programs that helped make those numbers possible.
Flagler Beach Planning to Install 30 Surveillance Cameras at 15 Locations Around Town for $158,000
The Flagler Beach City Commission votes Thursday on a $158,000 contract with a Jacksonville company to install 30 solar-powered surveillance cameras at 15 locations mostly south of State Road 100. The network requires a $109,859 start-up cost plus a $47,815 annual subscription. Local law enforcement will access the real-time feeds, as will city personnel. The proposal bypassed a formal bidding process and occurs as municipal governments are on their back heels over a proposed homestead tax cut.
Ten Arrested On Prostitution And Drug Charges In Joint Flagler County Undercover Sting, 3 Victims Rescued
A joint Flagler County undercover operation rescued three adult human trafficking victims and arrested 10 individuals on drug, prostitution, and weapons charges. The multi-month investigation targeted online sex markets. No human trafficking charges were filed today. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating suspected traffickers in an ongoing phase of the investigation.
Flagler Judge’s Forgetting Closing Arguments in Fatal DUI Hit-and-Run Case Triggers Unusual Appeal to Reconstruct Hearing
Flagler County Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols omitted closing arguments during the March sentencing to 10 years in prison of Melvin Adona for a double-fatal 2023 hit-and-run. Digital recording systems stopped before the oversight was realized, leaving no official record of subsequent arguments. The defense filed an unopposed motion requesting the appellate court return jurisdiction to the circuit court, intending to reconstruct the missing record.
Palm Coast Will Install Flashing Stop Signs At Exasperating Royal Palms and Old Kings Intersections with Town Center Blvd
Palm Coast public works crews will install flashing-red stop signs at two major Town Center intersections on July 2 and July 3. The intersections at Royal Palms Parkway and Old Kings Road will convert to three-way stops. The $15,000 project aims to reduce severe rush-hour backups. Drivers should expect overnight lane closures ahead of the Independence Day holiday.
Turtle Patrol’s ATV Is Stolen and Building Vandalized in Latest in Series of Criminal Mischief Incidents in Marineland
Thieves burglarized the Marineland Coastal Policy Center, vandalized the facility, and stole the Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol’s all-terrain vehicle kept there, alongside a data tablet, forcing Patrol volunteers to conduct morning nesting counts on foot during an especially busy nesting season. The nonprofit organization is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of their equipment. Local law enforcement officials are investigating.
3 Years in Prison for National Guardsman Nicholas McLean, 22, for Bike Week DUI Crash That Killed Robert Clark on Belle Terre
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced 22-year-old Nicholas Tyler McLean to three years in prison and 12 years of probation today. McLean pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter for the 2025 Bike Week crash that killed 70-year-old motorcyclist Robert Clark on Belle Terre Boulevard as McClean and three other National Guard members were returning to the armory off Fin Way in Palm Coast. McLean registered a 0.108 blood-alcohol level. The plea conditions include a permanent driver’s license revocation and 50 hours of community service.
New Florida Laws Mandate Driver’s License Tracking Marks For Convicted Habitual Career Offenders
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of law enforcement-related measures Tuesday, with many of them designed to increase penalties for criminals and give police and prosecutors more options to pursue them. The bills range from making it easier for police to identify an individual as a gang member to requiring criminals deemed “career offenders” have the designation on their driver’s license.
Sheriff Staly Blasts Proposed Homestead Property Tax Amendment as ‘Politics’ That ‘Screw Around With the Cities and the County’
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly publicly criticized a proposed Florida constitutional amendment increasing homestead exemptions to $250,000. While local officials fear election-year backlash for opposing tax cuts, Staly characterized the legislation as reckless politics that defunds municipalities. Addressing the Palm Coast City Council this morning, he urged leaders to launch public education campaigns, warning that vague legislative language threatens critical local government operations despite exemptions for public safety services.
Palm Coast Woman Shoots Former Friend Who Allegedly Broke Into B-Section House Demanding Money
Michael Ishia McDonald, a 33-year-old resident of Freeland Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested Sunday and held at the Flagler County jail on no bond on a life felony charge of burglary with assault after he allegedly broke into a former friend’s B-Section house. The former friend, a woman, shot him, injuring him.
FDLE Says No ‘Quid Pro Quo’ From Raydient to Mayor Norris, Who’d Agreed to ‘Western Expansion’ in Private Meeting
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris told state FDLE investigators that he falsely promised to support Raydient’s “western expansion” expansion plans during a 2025 meeting. He later accused the company of offering a quid pro quo for his mayoral tenure. An FDLE report concluded no crime occurred because no funds or services were exchanged.
Bunnell Police Say Man Broke Into Ex-Girlfriend’s Apartment Masked and Gloved and Raped Her At Knifepoint
After allegedly taking several steps that prosecutors would say underscore the extent of premeditation, including disabling the victim’s internet and wearing gloves and a mask, Antonio Figueroa-Acevedo, a 30-year-old resident of Anderson Street in Bunnell, is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, imprisoning her in her bedroom and strangling her after she screamed for help, then forcibly raping her while holding a knife to her neck, according to an arrest report filed by Bunnell Police Detective Joe Traylor.
Flagler County Inmates Welcome Homeless Puppies to Advance Mental Health and Addiction Recovery
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office expanded its SMART inmate recovery program by partnering with the Flagler Humane Society to house 11 puppies. Seven male inmates handle feeding, cleanup, and socialization duties at the detention facility. This initiative teaches participants responsibility and patience to aid their addiction recovery. The partnership simultaneously frees up shelter kennel space and prepares the animals for permanent adoption.
Two Former Florida Mayors File Lawsuit Challenging Misleading Ballot Language On Property Tax Amendment
Two former Florida mayors and a nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit challenging a November property tax amendment that would sharply reduce homesteaded property taxes. The plaintiffs allege the ballot summary illegally advocates for the measure rather than explaining its actual impact. A House staff analysis indicates the proposed homestead exemptions could reduce local government revenues by $8.4 billion annually.
Thick Smoke Over Palm Coast Is a 470-Acre Prescribed Fire At Faver-Dykes State Park North Of Flagler County
The Florida Park Service is conducting a 470-acre controlled burn at Faver-Dykes State Park today, with heavy smoke visible in Palm Coast and Bunnell and north of the fire. Officials expect the fire to be dead out by 10:25 p.m. this evening. Favorable humidity and winds are keeping the smoke away from park attractions, which have not been affected. Prescribed fires prevents future uncontrolled wildfires.
Federal Felon and Identity Thief Charged with Accosting 15-Year-Old Boy in Showers at Planet Fitness
A Daytona Beach man who pleaded guilty in a federal fraud case is accused of exposing himself to a 15-year-old boy inside a Planet Fitness locker room and attempting an unwanted interaction during a shower. The teenager later identified Craig Stevens, 34, in a photo lineup with complete confidence. Detectives charged Stevens with lewd or lascivious exhibition, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
27-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Stabs a Child in His Care and Faces Aggravated Child Abuse Charge
Devroy Miller, a 27-year-old resident of Rocket Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse and no bond following his alleged stabbing of a juvenile in his care. Miller is married to the juvenile’s guardian. Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Florida Cabinet Prepares to Award Another $90 Million For Illegal Immigration Enforcement
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet next week will consider approximately $90 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The money will go toward a fire suppression system for a server room in Escambia County, handguns for Santa Rosa County, drones for Alachua County and “official police” patches for uniformed officers with the Auburndale Police Department.
Bunnell Police Chief Brannon Completes Elite FBI National Command Leadership Course
Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Command Course for small-agency executives. The week-long program gathered 52 law enforcement leaders to address budget constraints, staffing limitations, and public trust. Participants studied historical leadership at Mount Vernon and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Flagler County Man Dies After Car Rolls Into I-95 Retention Pond at Palm Coast Parkway Exit
A Flagler County man lost his life this morning when his car rolled over from the I-95 exit ramp to Palm Coast Parkway and ended up submerged and upside down in a retention pond. The man had been driving north when he took the Exit 289 ramp, apparently at high speed. The car veered off the ramp and struck a tree before ending up in the pond some 40 feet from the embankment.
Day of Disparities: 3 Men Charged with Statutory Rape Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison, 4 Years in Prison, Probation
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols handed down three vastly different sentences for similar statutory rape cases today. The defendants received terms ranging from probation to seven years in prison even as they faced similar charges in cases that did not involve force and presented similar circumstances. Variations in prosecution tactics and victim family input contributed significantly to the unequal judicial outcomes.
Comments From Deputy County Attorney Trigger Defamation Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Commission Just Settled With
Former Flagler County human resources manager Samantha Whitfield filed a new lawsuit on June 2, charging civil rights violations and defamation. The action followed remarks by Deputy County Attorney Sean Moylan, who called her initial whistleblower lawsuit frivolous before commissioners approved a $20,000 settlement on Monday. The new lawsuit was filed the next day, as Whitfield’s attorney indicated set aside the settlement.
4-Hour SWAT Team Deployment in R-Section Leads to Man’s Arrest for Kidnapping and Armed Threats
A Flagler County dispute over a motorcycle seat escalated into violence when James Emory Pudder allegedly pulled a handgun on his live-in girlfriend and her brother in an R-Section house in Palm Coast late Sunday night. A large SWAT deployment eventually resulted in the man’s arrest, after he’d fled across the street to a neighbor’s house.
Flagler County and City Officials Warn of Severe Cuts to Government Services if Voters Approve Measure to Cut Homestead Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment ballot measure scaling back homesteaded property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property valuations. Flagler County faces a projected first-year loss of $35 million, climbing to $60 million in year two. Local administrators and elected officials warn that this shifting tax structure will trigger severe, programmatic budget cuts for essential municipal services, including parks, libraries, and animal control, and speak with dismay at lawmakers’ silence on alternative funding sources.
Hearing Delayed and Jail Time Extended For Man Expelled From Rehab Over Refusing to Profess Faith in God
A legal resolution is expected by June 16 for Joshua King, a 29-year-old probationer held at the Flagler County jail for almost a month following his expulsion from Faith Farm Ministries, a private addiction recovery program. He was discharged because he refused to profess a belief in a Christian God, resulting in an alleged probation violation, for which he has yet to be arraigned.
GOP Delegates at State Convention Hold Moment of Silence for Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s Convicted Murderer
Christopher Rocco, one of the over 2,000 delegates at Minnesota’s Republican state convention last weekend, called for a 30-second moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020 after kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for over nine minutes in an arrest over a suspected $20 counterfeit bill. Chauvin is still alive and in prison.
Flagler Emergency Director Jonathan Lord Warns Dual Fiscal Storms Could Wipe Out Local Hurricane Recovery
Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord warned that local governments potentially face a severe financial crisis as proposed federal policy changes to FEMA would restrict disaster designations and shift recovery costs to local municipalities. Simultaneously, a state special session may result in a constitutional amendment proposal eliminating or reducing homestead property taxes. The loss of local revenue would directly threatens the funding required for emergency infrastructure, personnel, and vital community protection services.
Flagler Commissioners Approve $20,000 Settlement with Former HR Manager in Lawsuit Termed ‘Bogus’ and ‘Frivolous’
The Flagler County Commission voted 3-1 to approve a $20,000 settlement with former human resources manager Samantha Whitfield, who alleged wrongful termination after she reported a colleague’s misconduct. County officials labeled the lawsuit frivolous and bogus. The insurer negotiated the settlement strictly as a cost-saving business decision but Commissioner Andy Dance opposed the payout and is looking for a policy controlling the handling of future employment lawsuits.
Palm Coast Man, 21, Accused of Statutory Rape and Recording Encounter With 15-Year-Old Girl
Micah McGuire, 21, of Palm Coast, faces felony charges after investigators alleged he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl and recorded part of the encounter using her cell phone. Video evidence, witness statements, and the suspect’s admissions linked him to the case, according to his arrest report. Authorities also accused him of resisting deputies executing a search warrant. The investigation remains active as detectives seek additional potential victims.
Deputies Arrest Grandmother And 13-Year-Old Girl After Threats And Using Pit Bull to Trap Teens at Ralph Carter Park
Flagler County deputies arrested a 13-year-old girl and her 64-year-old grandmother following a violent dispute with other juveniles at Ralph Carter Park in Palm Coast. The pair threatened five juveniles and used a pit bull to trap them inside a locked public restroom. The teenage girl faces felony grand theft and written threats charges, the grandmother is charged with false imprisonment.
Palm Coast Will Deploy Engine Company to Flagler Beach Fire Department, Bridging Staffing Shortfall For $54,000
Palm Coast and Flagler Beach plan to enact a temporary agreement sending a Palm Coast fire engine company to assist the severely understaffed Flagler Beach Fire Department. The emergency measure follows the sudden resignation of five Flagler Beach firefighters. Flagler Beach will pay Palm Coast $54,000 to fund one active shift rotation for four weeks. Both city governments are expected to ratify the agreement next week.
Flagler Deputies Arrest Virginia Murder Suspect Accused Of Faking Wife’s Suicide in 2021
Ross Butler was arrested in Flagler County on a Virginia warrant for the 2021 murder of his wife Ashlee Butler-Davis. Authorities allege the 56-year-old man strangled the 36-year-old woman in Chesterfield County and staged the scene as a suicide. A Virginia grand jury two weeks ago indicted him on a first-degree murder charge. Flagler deputies detained him outside AdventHealth Palm Coast and he now awaits extradition back to Virginia.
Chick-fil-A, Ellianos, Now Taco Bell: Palm Coast Appears to Have a Fast-Food Solo Fetish on Its Hands
A 28-year-old man was jailed this morning on a $5,000 bond following his arrest for public indecent exposure at the door of the Taco Bell on State Road 100 in Palm Coast after a witness spotted him in a recognizably solo act just past midnight. The incident marks the third public masturbation or exposure arrest in Palm Coast in less than a month.
DeSantis Plan to Eliminate Homesteaded Property Tax Would Hit Public Safety, Schools, Health and Local Governance
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced his plan for a homestead property tax exemption that could crimp local governments’ ability to fund schools, health care, and public safety. Simultaneously, he called for lawmakers to return to Tallahassee and address his plan in a three-day special session starting Monday.
‘I Lied Under Oath to Protect Government Secrets’: The Thin Line Between Mental Illness And Criminal Prosecution
Appearing before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols Tuesday, David J. Pettit of Bunnell wanted to withdraw the plea that sent him to prison for three years, claiming he was incompetent when he pleaded–that he was lying to protect NSA secrets about telepathic communications. The judge denied the motion. The case illustrates the little extent to which mental illness gets in the way of criminal prosecutions no matter how absurdly an individual behaves, no matter how outlandishly he speaks, no matter how paranoid and violent his past behavior.
Two Hospitalized Following Violent Road Rage Argument and Shooting at Palm Coast McDonald’s Drive-Thru
A road rage dispute originating on Belle Terre Parkway escalated into a shooting late Tuesday night at a Palm Coast McDonald’s drive-thru. Three individuals exited their vehicles during a secondary argument as a 50-year-old man shot a 61-year-old multiple times with a small-caliber weapon. Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives impounded two vehicles to gather evidence. The investigation remains active without immediate arrests.
Missing Documents and Unsigned Grievances Prompt Flagler Beach to Seek Dismissal of Whistleblower Lawsuit
Flagler Beach filed a motion to dismiss a whistleblower lawsuit by former Facilities Director Bryan Moisao. The city defines his claims as routine personnel friction rather than protected disclosures. Procedural errors plague the complaint as Moisao failed to attach required documents or sign the allegations. The complaint echoes grievances made by a current and former commissioner against the city manager.
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Florida Attorney General Uthmeier from Suing Over Undocumented Truck Driver
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s attempt to sue California and Washington for licensing an undocumented truck driver accused of killing three Floridians in a traffic accident. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, nominated by George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, respectively, dissented, arguing the court should reconsider its longstanding reluctance to hear disputes between states.