Howard Taft Blair, 56, was sentenced to four months in jail and five years of probation for killing his dog, Nutmeg. The 15-month-old female was strangled during a visceral reaction to a dog fight. Judge Dawn Nichols cited poor judgment and potential substance abuse involving Xanax. Blair must pay fines, attend counseling, and is barred from future animal ownership or fostering.
Cops/Courts
10 Years in Prison for Melvin Adona for Hit-and-Run Deaths of Jacqueline Martin, 50, and Georgette Fisher, 59
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced Melvin Adona to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation for a 2023 hit and run in Bunnell. Adona, driving 70 mph after drinking, struck three pedestrians, killing Jacqueline Martin and Georgette Fisher while severely injuring Philip McClure. The defense and Adona himself claimed he “froze” in shock. The judge emphasized punishment, the loss of two lives, Adona’s concern for himself after the crash, and she singled out a deputy’s life-saving actions.
17-Year-Old Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison, 10 on Probation, for Armed Burglaries in West Flagler With 3 Accomplices
Alan Gabriel Jaramillo-Hernandez, 17, was sentenced to five years in prison and 10 years of probation for his role in 15 armed burglaries in West Flagler. Despite guidelines suggesting 13 years, Judge Dawn Nichols granted a downward departure. Jaramillo-Hernandez, who was 16 during the crimes, must pay restitution and avoid contact with three co-defendants, including his brother, while adhering to a curfew.
Palm Coast Council Approves $226,000 Design Plans to Transform Historic Fire Station 22 Into Museum
The Palm Coast City Council approved a $226,000 design contract to transform historic Fire Station 22 into a museum and home to the Palm Coast Historical Society and possibly a welcome center. Saved from demolition by the Palm Coast Historical Society and Council member Theresa Pontieri’s advocacy, the 1977 building will feature exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, and an art studio. Funding comes from fire impact fees as the city seeks grants to cover future construction costs for the site.
Florida Kills Billy Leon Kearse For The 1991 Murder Of Officer Danny Parrish
Florida killed 53-year-old Billy Leon Kearse on Tuesday for the 1991 murder of Fort Pierce Officer Danny Parrish. Kearse, who shot Parrish 13 times during a traffic stop, was the third inmate executed in Florida this year. The state Supreme Court recently rejected his final appeals, which claimed intellectual disability and improper jury influence caused by the presence of uniformed officers during his trial.
Every Bunnell Police Officer to Carry AED Following Major Grant From Firehouse Subs Safety Foundation
The Bunnell Police Department received a $20,930 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. This award provides 14 Zoll AEDs, first aid kits, and trauma kits, ensuring every officer and 2 civilian public safety officers are equipped for cardiac emergencies. Chief David Brannon emphasized that the new gear allows first responders to provide immediate life-saving measures to the community while on patrol.
Potential Litigation Over Flagler Beach’s Annexation of Veranda Bay Isn’t Over Until Kim Carney Says It Is
Flagler County officials are reconsidering a previously assumed universal settlement regarding the Veranda Bay annexation. Commissioner Kim Carney, citing missing resident petitions, contends the annexation is illegal. Despite warnings from the county attorney about losing mitigation funds and a 153-acre conservation deal, the commission will hold a workshop to discuss legal action. The move, with guarded support from Commission Chair Leann Pennington, pending further deliberations, threatens to reignite conflict between Flagler Beach and the county.
DeSantis Signs Ex-Cop James Duckett’s Death Warrant for 1987 Murder of Teresa McAbee, 11
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for James Aren Duckett, a former Mascotte police officer convicted of the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. Duckett, 68, is scheduled to be killed by lethal injection on March 31 at Florida State Prison. This is the fifth warrant the governor signed this year follows a record-breaking 19 executions carried out in Florida in 2025.
Recently Released Felon Tased and Arrested Following Knife Attack on Flagler County Sheriff’s Deputy
Fifteen months after a prior arrest for assaulting deputies, 35-year-old Andrew Mark Williams was arrested again on Thursday following a violent standoff at an Ormond Beach home. After locking his elderly relatives out, Williams barricaded himself inside and slashed a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy with a sharp kitchen knife. Deputies deployed a Taser to subdue him, leading to seven new felony charges including elder abuse.
Controversial Bill Allowing Armed Civilians On Florida College Campuses Advances After House Approval
The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill expanding the school guardian program to state colleges and universities. The legislation allows college presidents to designate faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus. While supporters cite safety concerns following previous campus violence, opponents question the adequacy of the proposed training and highlight funding disparities for law enforcement between colleges and state universities.
Florida May Be Left Holding Bag for $608 Million Cost of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The Justice Department announced that a highly anticipated $608 million federal reimbursement from FEMA will not cover construction costs for Florida’s state-run migrant detention centers, including “Alligator Alcatraz.” Court filings reveal any potential funding would only apply to operational expenses, contradicting prior claims by the DeSantis administration. The funding delay occurs amid a major restructuring at the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem.
Flagler Deputies Catch Fleeing Roommate Stabbing Suspect in Palm Coast
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Palm Coast man after he allegedly stabbed his roommate multiple times during a dispute on Pier Lane and fled. Deputies pursued the suspect, Jose Rafael Cortes Nieves, and deployed stop sticks to safely end the high-speed chase. Cortes Nieves confessed to the brutal attack and is currently being held on a $150,000 bond. The victim is now recovering.
Palm Coast Resident Arrested For Generating Child Sexual Abuse Material Using Artificial Intelligence
Robert Ezra Lamb, a 38-year-old Palm Coast resident, faces five felony charges for generating and possessing artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse materials. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested him following an Onlyfans cybertip. Detectives discovered Lamb used an application to digitally remove clothing from real images of an ex-girlfriend’s young daughter. The case highlights a global surge in realistic, AI-generated child exploitation content.
In Year’s Second Execution, Florida Kills Melvin Trotter, 65, For 1986 Murder Of Grocery Store Owner
Melvin Trotter, 65, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the 1986 murder of Palmetto grocery store owner Virgie Langford. The Florida Supreme Court denied his stay of execution, rejecting claims about lethal injection procedures and his age. Catholic leaders unsuccessfully urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to commute the sentence, criticizing Florida for its accelerated pace of executions after a highly active year.
Matanzas High School Student Arrested For Snapchat Gun Threats
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fourteen-year-old Matanzas High School student after he threatened to shoot two classmates. During an online argument over Snapchat, the teenager sent a video of himself displaying his father’s firearm and issued death threats. Authorities detained the boy following a lunchroom altercation, charging him with a felony for sending written or electronic threats to kill or do bodily injury.
Flagler Sheriff Among 18 Police Agencies Sharing $40 Million State Aid for Immigration Enforcement
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $6,500 for 100 mattresses, $198,000 for 60 rapid ID devices, $46,000 for five in-car cameras, $7,500 for five handheld inmate-tracking devices, and $2,800 for 400 blankets. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved the $40 million ask from local police agencies Tuesday morning. It’s part of a broader, $250 million state grant created last year to both encourage and reimburse local agencies participating in the sweeping illegal immigration crackdown pushed by President Donald Trump and at the state level by DeSantis.
Local Governments Clash With Federal Agencies Over Massive ICE Detention Centers
As the Trump administration rapidly expands immigration detention through a massive federal budget, local communities across the United States are vehemently opposing new plans to convert industrial warehouses into large holding facilities. Citing a profound lack of federal transparency, severe economic strain, and deep humanitarian concerns, city leaders are utilizing zoning laws, moratoriums, and public pressure campaigns to successfully block these highly controversial new developments.
Khalon Pierre, 16, Missing from His Palm Coast Home Since Friday, Killed by Train in Suspected Suicide
Khalon Pierre, a 16-year-old Palm Coast boy who was reported missing on Friday, died Saturday night in a collision with a Florida East Coast Railway freight train south of Bunnell. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said that evidence from the scene, including train video, indicates the death was a suicide. The teenager had been seen on surveillance video at a nearby DeLand Walmart before the crash.
How Ring Doorbells Reveal the Future of Surveillance
Private companies are supplying “intelligence as a service” to government entities and others – and as the Amazon-owned Ring doorbell camera company found out when it advertised a new feature, the change is not without controversy. This broader surveillance economy that has emerged is driven by private companies, not governments.
Judge Grudgingly Grants City’s Emergency Delay in Home Builders’ Lawsuit Against Palm Coast Over Impact Fees
A circuit judge reluctantly granted Palm Coast an emergency delay in a critical lawsuit filed by the Home Builders Association over significantly increased development impact fees. The city requested the postponement after the builders submitted a second amended complaint, causing confusion over which document governed the proceedings. The HBA is concerned about financial cost of further delays, but the judge prioritized avoiding procedural errors that could lead to an appeal.
To Prevent Inmate Deaths, Flagler Sheriff Implements Biometric Monitoring in Real Time at Jail
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has deployed OverWatch biometric sensors at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility to improve inmate safety. Funded entirely by inmate welfare funds at no taxpayer cost, the wrist-worn devices monitor real-time vitals like heart rate and oxygen levels. This technology allows staff to detect and respond rapidly to medical emergencies, drug withdrawals, and suicide risks between routine physical checks.
A Day After Blocking Diverting Emergency Money to Migrant Enforcement, House Backs Down
The Florida House on Tuesday backed down from its proposal to block emergency funds from being used on illegal immigration enforcement following harsh criticism from the DeSantis administration. This represents a massive pivot from the GOP-dominated House’s original proposal to exclusively use the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund on natural disasters, an idea blasted as “moronic” by the state Attorney General James Uthmeier, a former aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Exonerated at Trial 3 Months Ago, Ed Sampson Faces New Felony and Up to 10 Years in Prison for Jailhouse Battery
Edward Sampson, recently exonerated at trial of a felony that could have sent him to prison for 30 years, faces a new felony battery charge following a Jan. 18 jailhouse fight with an inmate. Sampson, known for his peripheral link to the Noah Smith murder case, could face 10 years as a habitual offender. He remains free on bond pending a March 18 pretrial before Judge Dawn Nichols.
Florida House GOP Bill Blocks Dollars for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A Republican effort to block new funding for the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Deportation Depot” migrant lockups unanimously cleared its first House committee hearing Monday. The bill would prevent the state’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund from going toward immigration enforcement, a move that would starkly pivot legislative Republicans away from their all-in anti-illegal immigration crackdown pushed just one year ago.
80-Year-Old Man Struck and Killed as Wife Backs Out SUV at Their Grand Haven Home
James McCutcheon, 80, was killed Friday morning after being struck by the SUV his wife was backing out of a driveway on Shinnecock Drive in Grand Haven. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the county’s first pedestrian fatality of 2026.
Palm Coast Splash Pad Suit Settlements Reach $2.375 Million, but City Still Faces Over $1.2 Million Loss
Palm Coast has reached a settlement with the final contractors involved in the shoddily constructed Holland Park splash pad. While total recoveries reach $2.375 million, the city remains over $1 million in the red due to rebuilding costs and legal fees. The City Council is expected to ratify the agreement on Tuesday, officially ending the four-year litigation.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies De-escalate Standoff After Manic Man Reaches for Replica Gun
Flagler County deputies on Monday successfully de-escalated a volatile encounter with a frantic man wielding a realistic-looking pepper ball gun, extending the agency’s 13-year record without a fatal officer-involved shooting. The incident followed days of delusional 911 calls by the suspect, who was safely detained for a mental health evaluation despite resisting arrest and attempting to flee.
Florida Kills Ronald Heath by Lethal Injection in First State Execution of 2026
Ronald Heath, 64, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison for the 1989 murder of Michael Sheridan. This marks Florida’s first execution of 2026, following a record-setting year of 19 executions under Governor Ron DeSantis. The U.S. Supreme Court denied final appeals regarding the case, which involved a robbery and stabbing detailed graphically in court records.
Florida Emergency Management Spent $405 Million in 7 Months Chasing Migrants, Meals and Badges
Records show that the Florida Division of Emergency Management used the state’s emergency respond fund to spend $405.6 million from August through February on 83 contracts with private vendors. That figure includes expenditures like $479,000 to one private jet firm for staff flights to and from the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center and to support evacuation of Americans during the Israel-Hamas war; thousands spent at 55 restaurants; and a $203.72 purchase at “Awards4U,” a company that lets customers create their own badges, trophies, or awards.
County Testily Approves $550,000 Hammock Harbour Settlement, Clearing the Way for 204-Boat Storage Facility
Flagler County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a $550,000 settlement with Hammock Harbour, ending a six-year legal dispute and allowing a 204-boat storage facility on Scenic A1A. Despite strong opposition from Hammock residents and reluctance from commissioners, the agreement invalidates special exception requirements and grants the developer building credits to avoid a potentially costlier jury verdict.
Golf Cart Charging Sparks Fire That Destroys Garage But Spares Flagler Beach Home
A Monday afternoon fire at a Flagler Beach home, caused by a charging golf cart, destroyed the garage and two vehicles but spared the living quarters. Fire Chief Stephen Cox credited a closed fire-rated door for containing the blaze. The homeowner was treated for smoke inhalation, and authorities warned of growing hazards associated with golf cart batteries.
Breaking: Sheriff Staly, Who Runs Flagler County’s Jail, Will Continue to Run Flagler County’s Jail
The Flagler County Commission unanimously designated Sheriff Rick Staly as the official correctional officer this evening, a move formalizing existing operations to comply with state law. The county maintains the physical facility, but Staly oversees daily operations. The ordinance includes no salary increase for Staly.
Palm Coast E-bike Rider Killed in Evening Collision on Palm Coast Parkway
A 69-year-old Palm Coast man died Friday evening after his e-bike collided with a sedan at Palm Coast Parkway and Diandra Drive. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the rider failed to yield the right of way.
Flagler County Declares Burn Ban
Flagler County enacted a burn ban effective 5 p.m. Friday (February 6) and declared a state of local emergency to do so. The ban remains in effect for seven days.
Settlement Calls for Flagler County to Pay Developer $550,000 and Clear the Way for 204-Boat Storage Facility in Hammock
Flagler County has reached a $550,000 settlement with Hammock Harbour,ending a federal lawsuit and a Bert J. Harris Act claim–should the County Commission ratify it on Monday. The agreement pays $400,000 in cash and $150,000 in fee credits while approving the developer’s site plan and allowing construction of a 203-boat dry-storage facility on State Road A1A without the previously required special exception or further public review.
Flagler Beach Approves Conflict-Resolution Window to Stave Off County Litigation Over Summertown Annexation
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved a timeline extension to facilitate negotiations with Flagler County, aiming to avoid litigation over the Summertown development’s annexation. Disputes center on a recycled-water commitment, floodplains, and traffic impacts. The county initiated the formal conflict-resolution process. Both sides are optimistic that negotiations will make litigation unnecessary.
Flagler Beach Man Facing Felony Charges for Soliciting 14-Year-Old on Snapchat
Cameron James Terry, 23, of Flagler Beach, faces felony charges for soliciting a child and unlawful use of a communication device. Terry allegedly admitted to sending graphic, sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat after meeting her through an online poker game.
170-Acre Wildfire Off US1 and Old Dixie Prompts Brief Evacuations But No Structures Lost as Blaze Is 50% Contained
A controlled burn escaped on Wednesday, growing into a 170-acre wildfire near U.S. 1 in Flagler County. The fire forced the evacuation of a dozen homes before crews achieved 50% containment overnight. While light rain aided suppression efforts and allowed residents to return home, fire officials remain on high alert. High winds and Florida’s unique vegetation pose ongoing risks, and residents are urged to remain cautious as mop-up operations continue today.
Judge Sets Nov. 16 Trial Date in Allete’s Lawsuit Against Palm Coast Over Town Center Utilities
Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch has scheduled a two-week trial for November 16 regarding a lawsuit filed by Palm Coast Holdings against the city. The developer alleges that utility service uncertainties caused significant land sale losses. While the city defends its capacity and infrastructure investments, the court will hear motions to dismiss and amended complaints this March.
11-Year-Old Girl Arrested at ITMS Over Threats on Bathroom Wall
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an 11-year-old girl after an investigation revealed she had written a shooting threat on a bathroom wall.
Judge Rejects Defense Witness Testimony on Victim Credibility Ahead of Henriqson Trial on Capital Rape Charges
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols denied Kristopher Henriqson’s request for a sixty-day trial delay, though she remains open to a postponement if he secures a medical expert. Henriqson, representing himself against capital charges, seeks to prove a discredited theory regarding physical evidence. The court also ruled that defense witnesses cannot offer opinions on the victim’s truthfulness, citing strict evidentiary rules, a further blow to Henriqson’s defense. He goes on trial on capital rape charges next week.
Fatal Crash West of Bunnell Claims Life of 44-Year-Old Daytona North Woman
Melani N. Stodola, a resident of Walnut Avenue in Daytona North–not far from the scene of the crash–was driving her blue 2009 Honda sedan when she crashed into a vehicle described as a “sod-cutter” in 911 dispatch notes, at 8067 state Road 100 West late Monday morning.
Mental Health Issues May Have Played a Role as Details Emerge in Flagler Beach U-Haul Standoff
The woman at the center of a standoff involving a U-Haul truck in Flagler Beach Monday may have been experiencing a mental health episode and delusional issues, according to details of her arrest that emerged today. May Ling Ip “called 911 and made numerous statements indicating emotional instability and possible delusional thinking,” according to a sheriff’s report. The trigger of the incident on reports of the Ip’s suspicious behavior, especially after her initial interactions with a deputy, doesn’t appear to have been unreasonable.
Defiant Ex-Flagler Paramedic James Melady Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, Calling Rape Conviction ‘Malicious’
Former Flagler County paramedic James Melady was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2021 sexual battery of an incapacitated patient. Melady remained unrepentant, labeling his conviction a threat to the paramedic profession. The victim, who discovered the assault years later through video evidence, detailed the devastating trauma that followed, including a miscarriage and mental health relapse. Despite clear evidence of the victim’s helplessness, the jury’s verdict on a lesser charge limited Melady’s maximum sentence.
K-9s and BearCat Subdue Non-Compliant Suspects Fleeing in U-Haul After A1A Standoff in Flagler Beach
A man and woman are in custody following a standoff involving a U-Haul truck in Flagler Beach. After refusing to exit the vehicle on State Road A1A, deputies used less-lethal munitions and tear gas to disable the suspects’ vision and clear the cab. A K-9 unit eventually apprehended both individuals after the driver attempted to flee toward the ocean. Authorities recovered drugs from the truck, and the criminal investigation remains actively ongoing.
First a State Guard. Now Florida Wants a State Anti-Terrorism Police.
A proposal by Riverview Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez to create a statewide counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit cleared its first House committee stop. HB 945 would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to establish and administer a Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit tasked with identifying and disrupting foreign and domestic threats operating in, or targeting, Florida.
I’m an Ex-FBI Agent. Here’s How Federal Agents Are Undermining Law Enforcement Principles
The killing of Good and Pretti raises legal, tactical and policy questions regarding law enforcement practices by federal agents. These cases illustrate how some federal agents are engaging with the public in a way that undermines established principles of policing and constitutional law.
In Florida, Driver’s Tests Will be English-Only Starting Feb. 6
Driver’s license tests in Florida will be administered only in English starting Feb. 6, the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced Friday.
Florida House Battles Senate to Dismantle Post Parkland Gun Laws
Florida House Republicans are pushing HB 6029 to repeal the state’s 2018 risk-protection order law, which allows for temporary firearm confiscation from dangerous individuals. Despite the House’s repeated attempts to roll back Parkland-era restrictions, Senate President Ben Albritton remains a staunch opponent of the repeal, citing the law’s effectiveness in preventing mass violence. With over 19,000 orders issued since its inception, the law faces intense Second Amendment scrutiny but currently lacks a Senate sponsor.
Unmask ICE. End the Rittenhousing of America.
Masked ICE agents operate with dangerous impunity typical of paramilitaries and militias in third-world countries. It’s time to take off their masks, end their immunity, require bodycams, and to diminish the undisciplined violence of amateurs, prevent any agent hired within the past year to be in the streets.