Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested three correctional officers accused of murdering an inmate at Dade Correctional Institution (CI) on February 14, 2022. The officers, Christopher Rolon, 29, Kirk Walton, 34, and Ronald Connor, 24, are each charged with murder.
Cops/Courts
Flagler’s All-White Juries Aren’t What They Used To Be. Thank Wokism.
It wasn’t that long ago when an all-white jury deciding the fate of a Black man accused of raping a white woman, let alone a white underage girl, would have taken no more than the few minutes necessary to sign the verdict form declaring the man guilty. That’s assuming the man made it to the courthouse in the first place. Those days are over.
July 4 Fireworks in Flagler Beach May Not Happen as Long-Time Pyro Supplier Santore Is Booked Elsewhere
Fireworks by Santore, the fireworks manufacturer, cannot produce Flagler Beach’s Independence Day show on July 4 for only $25,000. The city may have another option with a much smaller provider, but that may not pan out, leaving the city without a fireworks show on that day.
Palm Coast Councilman Ed Danko’s Husky Mix at the Center of a Dog-Biting Incident at Holland Park
Palm Coast City Council member Ed Danko was accused of belligerence toward two Palm Coast animal control officers, initially refusing to quarantine his dog and provide the dog’s veterinary history, after his dog was accused of biting another at Holland Park. He signed the required documents five days after the incident.
Smoke and Ash from Development’s Burn Pile Near FPC Clouds School’s Hosting of District Track Championship
On Monday and Tuesday, the burning of cleared woods on State Road 100 near Wawa, for a future self-storage facility and a shopping mall, produced enough smoke and ash to cause concern on the nearby campus of Flagler Palm Coast High School as track athletes on Monday trained through the smoke, and on Tuesday had to compete through it as FPC hosted nine schools in the district track and field championships. The conditions produced a poorer image of of Palm Coast to visiting athletes and families than the district wished.
Sheriff Escorts Luciano and Celico Families to Tallahassee as Names of Fallen Are Added to Honor Wall
At the 40th Annual Florida FOP Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Service Monday morning, Detention Deputy First Class Paul Luciano and Sergeant Francesco Celico were among the 85 names added to their memorial wall. They were then among the thirty names added to the FSA Memorial Wall during a Monday afternoon ceremony.
Mother Tells Cops She Whipped Her Child With an Electric Cord for Lack of a Belt, and Faces Felony Charge
Camerae L. Hubbert, a 30-year-old resident of East Drain Street in Bunnell, faces a felony count of child abuse after allegedly admitting to a law enforcement officer that she had repeatedly whipped her elementary-age child with an electric cord.
Weaponizing Children in Domestic Conflicts
There are approximately 5.7 million cases of domestic abuse in the U.S. each year, and in some of those, mothers and fathers use children to manipulate and harm the other parent. This behavior can include directly pressuring the child to spy on the abused parent or threatening the abused parent that they will never see the child again if they leave the relationship.
Motorcyclist Is Killed on I-95 Near State Road 100 in Third Flagler Road Fatality in 4 Days
A single-motorcycle crash took the life of a man on I-95 early this afternoon immediately south of the intersection with State Road 100 in Palm Coast. It was the third road fatality in Flagler County in four days.
6-Foot Alligator Makes a House Call at Town Center’s Brookhaven Apartments
A 6-foot alligator made a house call at a Brookhaven Court residence Sunday evening. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel and Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies captured and released the alligator in a 65-minute operation. There were no injuries.
City of Flagler Beach and Golf Course Company Duel with Lawsuit and Eviction Notice
Flagler Golf Management, the company running Ocean Palms Golf Club in Flagler Beach since 2015, has sued the city just as the city has filed an eviction notice in circuit court, and six weeks since the Flagler Beach City Commission voted to end its 35-year lease with the company.
59-Year-Old Woman Killed, Two Critical in Head-On Crash on SR 11 Just Past Center of Bunnell
A head-on crash on State Road 11 just past the center of Bunnell took the life of one person and required two patients to be trauma-evacuated late this morning. The crash today brings the number of road fatalities to nine this year in Flagler County, matching the total number of road fatalities last year.
60-Year-Old St. Augustine Man Dies in Single Car Crash on U.S. 1 Near Matanzas Woods Parkway
A 60-year-old St. Augustine man was killed in a single-vehicle car crash on U.S. 1 in Palm Coast Friday afternoon. The crash took place just north of the roundabout at Matanzas Woods Parkway.
It’s Not Mayberry Anymore: A Matanzas High School Student on Bridging Community, Police and Mutual Trust
Kadance Nickmeyer, a student at Matanzas High School, entered and won an essay contest through her Criminal Justice class, devoting her essay to pragmatic ways schools, the community at large and law enforcement can build mutual trust in a difficult age.
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down UCF’s ‘Discriminatory Harassment’ Policy as Chilling Free Speech
The 38-page opinion by a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals backed arguments by the group Speech First, which has represented students at universities in various parts of the country. Judge Kevin Newsom wrote that the UCF policy “objectively chills speech because its operation would cause a reasonable student to fear expressing potentially unpopular beliefs.”
Mistrial in Case Against Kwentel Moultrie, Accused of Raping 16-Year-Old Girl, as Jury Deadlocks
An all-white jury of five women and one man could not agree on a verdict on the charge against Kwentel Moultrie, now 23, of raping a 16-year-old girl when he was 20 in a P-Section house in Palm Coast. The three day trial hinged on whether the sexual encounter was consensual or forced. Moultrie remains in jail on this charge and on unrelated second-degree murder and burglary charges resulting from a December alleged home invasion in the R-Section.
Flagler Sheriff’s Corrections Deputies Are Being Trained to ‘Rebuild Inmates’ Battling Addiction
In partnership with the Opioid Response Network (ORN), the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) and C4 Innovations are delivering a two- phase training program to deputies working within the walls of the county jail. They are teaching a spring and fall training session to jail staff in order to provide education about addiction, its impact and to help them to be supportive to inmates in treatment programs during their recovery.
Moultrie’s Defense in Rape Trial: He Was Framed in ‘Cover-Up’ By 16-Year-Old Girl, But His Lies Uncloak Him
Kwentel Moultrie’s defense attorneys argue the sex with a 16-year-old girl was consensual, but was followed by a “cover-up” by the girl and a friend who did not want to be found out after partying with Moultrie and others. Moultrie, in his trial’s second day, faces a first-degree felony rape charge in the 2019 alleged incident in a P-Section house in Palm Coast.
Moultrie’s Trial on Rape Charge Begins After He Rejected a No-Prison Deal, and Got Charged With Murder
Kwentell Moultrie turned down a no-prison deal on a first-degree felony charge of raping a 16-year-old girl, then got charged with second degree murder. His trial on the rape charge began today. He faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty.
Sheriff’s Office Is Flush With New Deputies, a New Operations Center and a New Mobile Command Center Ahead
The sheriff’s annual address gave him a chance to boast of a crime index 53 percent lower than when he took office in 2017, to summarize the past year in policing, explain current initiatives and project some of what’s ahead, including the big-ticket items–a new mobile command center and the opening of the Sheriff’s Operations Center later this year–and another big ask from the County Commission.
Damari Barnes, 15, Wants Out of $500,000 Bond in Man’s Killing But Lurid Detention Fight May Complicate Things
Damari Barnes, the 15-year-old Matanzas High School student accused of killing Jamey “JuJu” Bennett, 19, at a party in February, wants his $500,000 bond lowered so he can go home, but he and another inmate allegedly ganged up on a cell-mate on April 3, beat him and forced him to drink urine, making more difficult his attorney’s argument that he should be released to his mother on a lower bond.
Bunnell Man Impersonates Cop at Wendy’s to Claim Law Enforcement Discount, and Faces Felony Charge
Jesse David Stover, 57, of Bunnell, allegedly claimed he was an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency to get a discount at Wendy’s. The store manager did not believe him and called police. Stover faces a third-degree felony.
Facing Life in Prison, Aaron Thayer Pleads to Attempted Murder, 6 Years in Prison and 12 on Probation
Aaron Thayer, 40, the son of George Contos, who vanished from his Mondex home in 2015, faced an attempted first degree murder charge and numerous other charges after threatening to kill his then-girlfriend at the same Mondex property. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies intervened even as his girlfriend was hiding from him and speaking to a 911 operator.
Julie Demers, 43, Dies of Self-Inflicted Gunshot After 7-Hour Standoff with Deputies at Palm Coast Plantation
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies, including units of the SWAT team, were involved in a seven-hour standoff with a suicidal woman at 112 Emerald Lake Drive in Palm Coast Plantation since shortly before 8 this morning. 43-year-old Julie Demers shot herself in her pool after tear gas pushed her out of the house. She died at Halifax hospital.
Fire Rescue Lt. Jon Moscowitz Creates Sensory Boxes to Help Special Needs Patients During Medical Calls
It was the personal experience of dealing with the special needs of his 4-year-old daughter that inspired Flagler County Fire Rescue Lt. Jon Moscowitz to create sensory boxes to comfort special needs patients during medical, which also helps them connect and communicate with paramedics. Every Flagler County emergency vehicle in the county is now equipped with “Brookie Sensory Boxes,” named for his daughter Brooklynn.
Volunteer Firefighter Jericho Taylor Recognized for Intervention at Crash Site
At the April 5 Palm Coast City Council Meeting, Palm Coast Volunteer Firefighter Jericho Taylor character was recognized by the City Council for his interventions at a recent fatal motor vehicle crash.
Judge Perkins Calls It ‘Outrageous’ That Man Is Sitting in Jail Month After Month Awaiting State Hospital Evaluation
Richard Dunn’s case is sharply illustrative of a judicial and mental health system both overwhelmed with mental health cased and often ill equipped to handle them–and of the frustrations of both courts and attorneys in the face of that system. Circuit Judge Terence Perkins spoke without reserve this morning to express his dissatisfaction.
Borrowing Page from Trump, DeSantis Attacks Judge Who Doesn’t Rule His Way, Drawing Rebukes
Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative Republican leaders unloaded at U.S. District Judge Mark Walker after he struck down key portions of last year’s voter suppression law. James Gustafson Jr., president of the Tallahassee chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), wrote an opinion piece defending Walker against the attacks.
Ormond Beach Father Faces Death Penalty as Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Month-Old Child for Crying
Daemon Scott already bore a history of brutality on his body when his father, Calib J. Scott, 25, threw, slapped and slammed him because he would not stop crying, killing him. A jury of 12 today found Scott guilty of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse, among other charges. The sentencing phase of the trial begins next week.
Palm Coast Man Shoots His 1-Year-Old Dog After German Shepherd Mix Bit Fiancée
Jamier T. Lee-Bright, a 25-year-old resident of 21 Seaman Trail East in Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony counts Saturday, including cruelty to animals, following the execution-style shooting of his 1-year-old dog after the dog allegedly bit Lee-Bright’s fiancee.
7-Year-Old Boy Critical Following 2-Vehicle Crash and Fire on I-95, Involving 6 People
A 7-year-old Palm Coast boy was flown to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville and an 8-year-old girl was in serious condition following a two-vehicle crash and fire on I-95 Monday night. Six people were involved–four in one car, two in the other–all but the two children sustaining minor injuries.
Appeals Court Affirms Rulings Against Kimberle Weeks, Who Now Owes County Over $170,000 in Fees
In a pair of one-word rulings on Thursday, the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee affirmed lower court decisions against Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, who has been contesting attorneys’ fees she owes the county from two frivolous and defamatory ethics complaints she brought against former County Commissioner Charlie Ericksen and county attorney Al Haddeed.
Mondex Father with History of Domestic Violence Arrested on 2 Felony Counts of Child Abuse
William Ziegler, 37, allegedly turned violent toward his oldest of three sons when the boy, scared of heights, got anxious washing the top of a camper, and when his youngest, who is 11, would not tell him a joke the boy was not comfortable to tell.
First Amendment at Center of Lawsuit Against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law
A pivotal lawsuit in Florida — related to classroom instruction of sexual identity and gender orientation — could have heavy implications for what the discussions will sound like when it comes to free speech and the First Amendment.
Danial Marashi, Who Killed Assailant in Drug Deal Gone Bad in R-Section, Is Arrested on Drug Charges
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly called Danial Marashi a “dirtbag” after Marashi was arrested on several felony charges stemming from a car crash. Staly finally named him, as he was prevented to by law weeks ago when Marashi was the “victim drug dealer” in the Dec. 29 shooting of Zaire Roberts in an R-Section home invasion. Marashi had set up what was to be a drug deal before assailants chose to allegedly rob him.
Anguished Neighbors Beg Judge Not to Let Shooter Back In His Home as He Gets Another Big Break on Sentence
Jamal Nejame, the former three-time candidate for office in Flagler Beach, used his victims’ fear that he would reoccupy the property from where he shot at their house last July 4 to successfully reduce his charge from a second-degree felony to two misdemeanors, avoiding prison in exchange for two years on probation.
Palm Coast’s Danville I. Tardiel, 64, Retired Nurse, Teacher and Poet, Killed in Collision as He Was on Foot on I-95
Danville Israel Tardiel, a 64-year-old resident of South Coopers Hawkway in Palm Coast, was killed Thursday night on I-95 when an SUV struck him. He was on foot. The circumstances of the fatal crash are not clear.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Florida’s New Limits on Voting Access, Calling It ‘Cynical Effort to Suppress Turnout’
A federal judge has stricken key voting restrictions that the Florida Legislature passed last year as unconstitutional, concluding that they make voting more difficult for everybody but “intentionally target” minorities and “unduly” burden disabled voters.
“Don’t Say Gay” Law Draws Federal Lawsuit Three Days After DeSantis Signs It
Three days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure, LGBTQ-advocacy groups, parents, students and a teacher filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging a new law that includes barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early school grades.
Mom Calls Charles Swindell, 52, ‘Walking Cesspool’ for Raping Her Child as He’s Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
The 13-year-old victim’s older sister and mother managed to slip two school-issued iPads in her father’s pick-up truck and recorded him sexually assaulting the girl, which helped prosecute him. He had faced life in prison. A plea deal reduced the possible sentence to 15 to 30 years. The judge gave him the maximum 30.
Couple’s Self-Destruction Replays Scenario Familiar to Cops, Only for Charges to Be Dropped Again and Again
Amber Bruder, 30, and Jacob Baer, 29, who have two young children, have been on a self-destructive pattern of arrests and release for charges stemming from confrontations between them for several years. The charges are dropped when the victim chooses not to pursue them, making it difficult for prosecutors to end the cycle.
Flagler Sheriff and County Get Their Own Advocate to Help Control Inmate Health Costs
The agreement with Prime Health Services, through the Florida Sheriffs Association, is similar to securing a health advocate who negotiates medical bills after services have been rendered, to lower the costs of overbilling.
Palm Coast Pool Contractor Dan Priotti, Found Guilty of 3rd DUI in 10 Years, Faces Prison After Flawed Trial
Dan Priotti, who owns a pool-construction company in Palm Coast, gained notoriety when he was trespassed from Palm Coast City Hall in 2016 and when he unsuccessfully sought an appointment to the county’s Contractor Review Board in 2019. The judge denied a mistrial even though the prosecution inadvertently allowed the jury to hear Priotti speak of his prior DUI convictions on a video, a serious breach of trial rules.
Facing Life in Prison for Images and Abuse of Pre-Teen Girl, Steven Card of Palm Coast Pleads to 15 Years
Steven Card, 29, was facing punishment on two life felonies and two second-degree felonies if convicted. He’d also called himself “a monster” in an apology letter, and had confessed to his crimes to a Flagler County Sheriff’s detective who was investigating them last year.
Man Threatening to Blow Up Flagler Beach Pier and Shoot People Mobilizes Law Enforcement, Shutting Down A1A
Patrons at the Funky pelican and on the Flagler Beach pier were evacuated nearing 6:30 this evening when authorities learned of a man threatening to blow up the pier and shoot people. The situation is ongoing.
County Commission Declares ‘Dangerous’ 2 Dogs Who’d Been Terrorizing Hammock Neighborhood Since 2017
The Flagler County Commission Monday unanimously voted to approve an order declaring a pair of German shepherds in the Hammock “dangerous,” and requiring the dogs’ owner to abide by rules severely restricting the dogs’ freedom. The dogs had been terrorizing the neighborhood, injuring other dogs and their owners since 2017.
15-Year-Old Girl Crossing Darkened A1A In Critical Condition After SUV Strikes Her
A 15-year-old pedestrian was in critical condition Monday night after she was struck by an SUV on State Road A1A in Flagler Beach in the area of Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area.
Crista Rainey Is Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year as Sheriff’s Gala Raises $156,000 for Employee Assistance Trust
Headlining the Sheriff’s Gala, Sheriff Rick Staly recognized members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, volunteers and citizens for outstanding service to the community in 2020 and 2021. Sheriff Staly presented awards for Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year, Detention Deputy of the Year, Civilian Employee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Citizens of the Year. FSEAT provided each award recipient with tickets to the Sheriff’s Gala for themselves and a guest. This year’s Sheriff’s Gala was dedicated to fallen Detention DFC Paul Luciano.
Cornelius Baker’s Death Sentence Commuted to Life In Prison 15 Years After Murder of Elizabeth Uptagrafft in Bunnell Woods
It took Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano three minutes to put an end to the 15-year murder and death penalty case of Cornelius Baker, who, with Patricia Roosa, on Jan. 7, 2007, murdered Elizabeth Uptagrafft after beating her and her family and kidnapping her from her home in Daytona Beach.
DeSantis-Backed Law Restricting Protesters’ Rights Draws Skepticism from Federal Appeals Court
An attorney for Gov. Ron DeSantis drew skepticism Thursday from a federal appeals court during arguments in a challenge to a controversial law that enhanced penalties and created new crimes in protests that turn violent.