A judge had warned Duane Weeks Jr., the son of former Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks, to steer clear of trouble when he lasts sentenced him to prison. Weeks was out a matter of weeks before he was re-arrested, and now faces the prospect of a much steeper sentence.
Cops/Courts
Commissioners Blame ‘Bad Planning’ as Cost to Replace Jail Security System Triples in Months
The Flagler County jail’s surveillance system, including 149 cameras, is not yet seven years old. It’s failing. The Flagler County Commission–the jail’s landlord–is having to replace it for $1.6 million, just months after the county administration told commissioners that it would cost only $500,000.
‘Historic’ Fire Station 22 Will Move to Colbert Lane and Make Room for Community Center Parking
The Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve ending the life of its oldest fire house, Station 22, on Palm Coast Parkway and building a new station on Colbert Lane. The plan is part of a larger design both to improve firefighters’ response times and to improve the dismal parking situation at the Palm Coast Community center.
Felon with Long Prison History Faces Stabbing and Home Invasion Armed Robbery Charges
Richard Westervelt, 31, of Ryland Drive in Palm Coast, got out of his last prison stint in August. He now faces up to life in prison if convicted of the latest alleged offenses, including a stabbing, armed home invasion robbery and burglary.
48-Year-Old Man Is Killed in 2-Vehicle Collision on I-95 Near Palm Coast Parkway
A 48-year-old man driving a box truck was killed Friday evening (Feb. 17) when his truck collided with an SUV and rolled into the woods along I-95 about a mile north of the Palm Coast Parkway interchange.
FPC Fire Academy’s Kyle Gardner Finds a Career with the Palm Coast Fire Department
By joining the Flagler Palm Coast High School Fire Academy Leadership program as a freshman in 2017, Kyle Gardner was able to get a jumpstart on his fire school studies during the week while spending his weekends at Palm Coast Fire Stations 21 and 24.
Florida Justices Refuse to Block Killing of Donald Dillbeck, Convicted of Carjacking Murder
Justices refused to issue a stay of Dillbeck’s execution, whose death warrant was signed last month by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The killing, scheduled for Feb. 23, would be the first time a prisoner has been put to death in Florida since 2019. Dillbeck’s attorney say he is mentally disabled.
Judge Almost Doubles Bond on Gabriella Alo, Defendant in Brazen Flagler Beach Attack
Circuit Judge Terence Perkins this morning nearly doubled the bond on on 18-year-old Gabriella Alo, from $18,500 to $33,500, based on new information from the prosecution. Alo and her brother face charges in an attack on two people at Wickline Park in Flagler Beach in January. The judge also imposed a set of conditions should Alo manage to bond out.
In Brenan Hill’s Murder Trial Over Death of Savannah Gonzalez, Jury Will Hear Confession Defense Wanted Suppressed
Brenan Hill, 33, faces a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Savannah La-Rynn Gonzalez, 22 at the time, two years ago. He confessed to the shooting during an interview with detectives. The defense wanted the confession kept from the jury. A judge today disagreed.
Trio Looking for Guns Charged With Armed Burglaries of 26 Vehicles in Palm Coast
Three young Jacksonville men–La Darvin Noisette, 20, Donte Juan McCrary, 21, and Jamari McCrary, 20–are at the Flagler County jail, each facing 19 felony burglary charges, including two charges each for armed burglary, which could land them in prison for life, if convicted. The trio is linked to similar sprees in Daytona Beach and St. Johns County around the same time.
Flagler Sheriff’s Office Announces Death of K-9 Keanu Just Shy of His 4th Birthday
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office this morning announced the death of K-9 Keanu, a few weeks shy of his fourth birthday and a little over two years into his service with the Sheriff’s Office.
7 Years in Prison for Randy Alexandre, 23, Over Firing 27 Rounds at Occupied House on Kalamazoo Trail
Randy Alexandre, the 23-year-old man a jury found guilty of attempted manslaughter after he and two other men fired their guns at a house on Kalamazoo Trail in Palm Coast two years ago, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by seven years on probation today.
Flagler Sheriff Adds Live 911 Video Option for Callers to Show Their Emergency in Real Time
Flagler County Sheriff’s 911 dispatchers can now have a live video feed from any caller with a smartphone, with the caller’s permission, vastly improving 911 dispatchers’ awareness of an emergency scene and GPS location, so they can send the proper resources.
Palm Coast Man Arrested After Stand-Off With SWAT, and Twice Firing a Gun
Juan N. Nodarse, a 53-year-old resident of Cute Court in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on $175,000 bond after twice firing a gun–one shot was fired with deputies outside, one fired with his wife in the house–and triggering a SWAT team’s response from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Hopes DNA, New Imaging and Public Can Solve Murder Case from Early 1990s
The unidentified victim’s remains were found in 1993 on Palm Coast’s Sea Ship Place. A 2021 DNA profile was able to trace the victim’s family tree, and in January the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Forensic Imaging Unit produced a new facial approximation.
51-Year-Old Man Riding Pick-Up Truck’s Running Board Is Ejected and Killed in Mondex
Andrzej Kokoszka, a 51-year-old resident of Bud Lake, N.J., and Palm Coast, was killed Thursday afternoon in a vehicle incident at Rosewood Street and Clove Avenue in Daytona North, also known as the Mondex, in West Flagler.
Belt-Buckle Bruise on 5-Year-Old’s Face Leads to Felony Charge Against Step-Father
A 5-year-old child said his step-father, Anthony Aaron Dailey, 25, whipped him with a belt because he was having some candy in his parents’ bedroom. The belt buckle struck the child’s face, leaving a large red welt below his right eye.
Palm Coast’s Frank Fiore, 53, Accused of Fleecing Elderly Woman Who Took Him In
Frank Fiore, 53, of Palm Coast, faces nine felony charges–a maximum of 125 years in prison–for stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry from the elderly women who took him in after he told her at church that he was down on his luck.
Over 80% of Staffers Surveyed at 9 Flagler County Schools Don’t Want To Be Armed on Campus
The survey was conducted at the request of the Flagler County School Board as the board studies the feasibility of arming some staffers in addition to the sheriff’s school resource deputies. The survey did not ask employees whether they supported or opposed an armed-employee program in general, but only their willingness to participate.
Judge Criticizes Low Bond and Denies Lowering it Further on 18-Year-Old in Flagler Beach Assaults
In a case that’s drawn outsized attention from the Flagler Beach community, Circuit Judge Terence Perkins denied lowering Gabriella Alo’s $18,500 bond on charges of running over a 29-year-old woman who’d come to the aid of a 15-year-old boy Alo and her brother are accused of beating up on jan. 11 at Wickline Park in Flagler Beach.
Flagler County Maintains Favorable ISO, or Fire Protection, Rating
The rating takes into account the 9-1-1 emergency reporting system, local fire departments, water supply, and community risk reduction.
Florida Supreme Court Strips ‘Fairness and Diversity’ from Judges’ Training Programs
Florida judges no longer will need to learn how to at least try to ensure “fairness and diversity” while applying the law under a rule change that the Florida Supreme Court has adopted by a nearly unanimous vote.
Sheriff’s Community Engagement Unit Trains 3,000th Woman in Self-Defense
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Engagement Unit hosted its 203rd Women’s Self-Defense Course and trained its 3,000th female participant on Thursday, January 26th. The class was hosted at the Palm Coast Community Center for City of Palm Coast employees.
Palm Coast Mayor Suggests Candidates Be Criminal-Background Checked. Council Isn’t Interested.
A proposal by Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin to criminally-background check all future candidates for council drew more cautions and concerns from other council members and zero support, prompting him to withdraw it “until or unless it’s discussed in the future,” he said.
For 3rd Time in 2 Months, Matanzas High School and Deputies Confront Bogus Threat
Matanzas High School was the target of a third false threat in two months. Classes were not interrupted nor were evacuations called for as the sheriff’s office swept the school and found nothing.
18-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Faces Child Abuse Charge in Dating Violence Incident
An 18-year-old Palm Coast resident faces a felony child abuse charge stemming from a domestic violence incident involving his 16-year-old girlfriend. The case underscores the consequences of teen dating–just as, coincidentally, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month begins.
Man and Woman Spray-Painting Stolen Truck Scarlet Red Draw Attention, and Arrest
The couple had themselves tipped off a witness to their theft when the witness saw them spray-painting a truck with bright, scarlet-red paint–the kind of color associated with vainglorious attention-seekers.
40 Years in Prison for Jevante Hamilton for Overdose Death of Tim Davidson and Other Offenses
Jevante Hamilton’s charge carried a maximum 15-year prison sentence, but his repeated offenses and prison stints led the prosecution to ask for 30 years, plus 10 he was already sentenced to in Volusia, for separate offenses.
Flagler Firefighters Aiding State Agencies in Containing 2-Month-Old Favoretta Fire
Flagler County Fire Rescue continues to provide mutual aid to the Florida Forest Service and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – the lead response agencies – for an extremely dense mulch fire in Favoretta that has been burning for two months. The property owner has been dismantling the large pile to create smaller, less dense piles that will be easier to extinguish.
Renner Proposal Would Allow Floridians to Carry Guns Without a Permit or Safety Class
Calling the proposal an effort to “remove the government permission slip,” House Speaker Paul Renner on Monday announced legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without licenses or currently-required gun-safety classes.
How the Trauma of Police Killings Ripples Across Communities
The effects of police killings ripple from the individual victim to their families and local communities as they cope with the permanence of injury, death and loss. People victimized by the police have demonstrated higher-than-usual rates of depression, psychological distress and even suicide risk.
Taking a Hard Look at Police Killings
In spite of the huge public attention to police violence since 2020, police are actually killing more people than before, with communities of color facing a much higher risk.
‘Disgusted’ Sheriff Rick Staly Denounces Tyre Nichols Killing as Video Exposes Brutality
Sheriff Rick Staly described himself as “disgusted” by the actions of Memphis police officers as the nation reacted with shock to a video showing the wanton brutality of the beating of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Nichols, 29, died three days later from the injuries he suffered in the beating.
11-Year-Old Faces Felony for Threatening to Put 30 Bullets in a Buddy Taylor Middle Student
An 11-year-old sixth grader was arrested and charged with a second-degree felony for threatening to shoot a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School as a result of an argument over a girl.
12 Images of Child Sex Abuse Equal 18 Months in Prison for 79-Year-Old Palm Coast Man
Edgar Alloway Jr., 79, a 16-year resident of Banton Lane in Palm Coast, was sentenced to 18 months in state prison today for downloading 12 images of child sexual abuse. Alloway’s attorney, Josh Davis, called it a “death sentence” because of Alloway’s failing health.
Allyson Bennett, 41, Is Sentenced to 8 Years for Her Role in Overdose Death of Michael Burnett Jr.
Three days after her then-boyfriend and co-conspirator was sentenced to 15 years, Allyson Dawn Bennett was sentenced to eight years in prison today for selling Michael Burnett Jr. the drugs that killed him in 2018. The lower sentence reflects Bennett’s cooperation with authorities and, to a degree, her recovery works at the county jail.
Gabriella Alo, in Jail Over Beating and Hit-and-Run, Is Tased in Confrontation with Deputies
Gabriella Alo, the 18-year-old woman facing four felony counts stemming from allegedly brutalizing a boy and running over a woman earlier this month, had to be wrestled to the floor and tased into compliance at the Flagler County jail on Sunday after refusing to comply with orders from corrections deputies.
Matanzas High School Again Target of a Bomb Threat, Again Deemed a Hoax
Matanzas High School was on “Code Blue”–meaning a bomb threat–again for the second time in two months. The threat was made by phone, and was likely to be a hoax.
Kwentel Moultrie Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Rape Conviction, Still faces Murder Charge
Kwentel Moultrie, whom a jury last August found guilty of rape, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today. He had previously turned down a deal that would have drastically reduced the charge and spared him prison.
15 Years in Prison for Joseph Carroll in Fentanyl Overdose Death of Michael Burnett Jr.
Joseph Carroll, a 44-year-old former resident of Shady Lane in Palm Coast, was sentenced to 15 years in prison this morning for causing the death by fentanyl overdose of 31-year-old Michael Burnett Jr. in June 2018. Carroll and Allyson Bennett, 40, had sold the drug to Burnett shortly before his overdose.
After 18 Months of Silence on Allegation of Sex Assault, Ex-Palm Coast Doctor Will Answer Charges
The civil case against physician Gerard Abate, accused in a suit of deceiving and raping a woman at his Palm Coast condo in 2017, has been redirected to a more ordinary trial track after taking a bizarre turn for the 18 months Abate did not contest the charges against him.
Four Arrested in Drug Raid At Rivera Lane House in Palm Coast
On Thursday, January 19, 2023, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and SWAT Team executed a narcotics-related search warrant at 10 Rivera Lane in Palm Coast. This search warrant stemmed from a previous undercover operation conducted by SIU.
Dad’s Alert Over His Son’s Gun Thefts Leads to Arrest of Boys, 15 and 16, Before Confrontation
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old resident of Palm Coast were arrested on grand theft and other charges after allegedly stealing two firearms in a plan to intimidate or fight other juveniles at Holland Park in Palm Coast. The posturing preceding the boys’ arrests was similar to incidents that led to the shooting deaths of five teens in Palm Coast and Bunnell since 2019.
Brother and Sister Face Several Felony Charges in Beating and Hit-and-Run at Wickline Park
Gabriella Hope Alo, 18, and her brother Nicholas Dean Alo, 21, face several felony charges stemming from an alleged beating of a teen-age boy, running over a 29-year-old woman and leaving the scene at Wickline Park in Flagler Beach last week.
In a First in Flagler, Sheriff Goes Civil Route to Evict Repeat Drug Offenders in Mondex
For the first time in the county, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office invoked a civil nuisance abatement law to evict a homeowner from a homesteaded property that had been used “to facilitate criminal activity,” including drug use and sales, according to the judge’s order granting the eviction.
Jordan Munoz, 21, Faces Felony Charge After Firing a Gun During an Argument in Palm Coast’s Woodlands
Jordan Munoz, a 21-year-old resident of 20 Blackwell Place in Palm Coast, was booked at the Flagler County jail last week on a felony charge of aggravated assault and two lesser charges after allegedly firing his gun in the open air during an argument with his girlfriend outside the house on Blackwell, a heavily residential area in the Woodlands.
3 FPC Student Athletes Among 5 Injured in T-Bone Crash at Pine Grove and Belle Terre Parkway
Five people were injured, at least three seriously, in a t-bone crash at the intersection of Pine Grove Drive and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast minutes after 3 p.m. today.
Jacob Perry, Who Shot Up His Grandfather’s House, Invokes Scriptures and Being ‘Chosen’
Jacob Perry, 24, faces five felony charges following his admitted shooting at his grandfather’s car and house on Tuesday in Palm Coast. He cited a chapter from Isaiah in the Old Testament, telling deputies they could understand a lot about him from it. That may raising questions about his competency.
Shooting On Palm Coast’s Farnum Lane Results in Arrest of 24-Year-Old Grandson of Resident
In a matter of 60 minutes late this afternoon, Flagler County Sheriff’s units got the report of a shooting in the F-Section and a suspect on the loose. They set chase by ground and air. By 5 p.m., they had the suspect in custody–the 24-year-old grandson of the man living at the property he’d allegedly shot up.
Judicial Nominating Commission Begins Process to Fill County and Circuit Judgeship
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventh Judicial Circuit that includes Flagler County will map the process that will lead to the nomination of candidates to fill two judgeships that have come open in the circuit: a circuit judgeship in Volusia, after the retirement of Margaret Hudson, and a county judgeship in Putnam, after the elevation of Joe Boatman.