In a highly critical opinion, an appeals court Wednesday ordered the city of St. Pete Beach to release a transcript of a closed-door discussion about the settlement of a lawsuit.
Cops/Courts
Skeptical Judge Grants Delay in “Watchdog” Suit Against County Over Old Hospital Buy
A suit by a group that calls itself the Flagler Palm Coast Watchdogs, raising a conflict of interest issue with a county commissioner during the Memorial Hospital buy last year, does not belong in circuit court, the county argues.
Sheriff’s Deputies Never Wrote an Incident Report After Fatally Shooting Palm Coast Man
Details of the December 2012 fatal shooting of 32-year-old Troy Gordon on Brownstone Lane in Palm Coast, at a time when Don Fleming was still sheriff, emerged in a court case today that revealed how a union could trump sheriff’s policy even in grave shooting incidents.
Ex-Verdego Employee Accused of Defrauding Customers and Company Van Theft
Travis Heidinger, a 40-year-old resident of 5 Llanes Place in Palm Coast, was booked at the Flagler County jail Tuesday on four counts of grand theft after an investigation concluded he’d defrauded at least customers and Verdego and stolen company property.
Xanax, Beer and a Louisville Slugger: Mondex Man Accused of Battering Woman Over Drugs
Richard Spear, a 50-year-old resident of Daytona North is accused of battering a 30-year-old woman and threatening her and her ex-boyfriend, and smashing the ex-boyfriend’s car with a baseball bat.
650 Names, or 13% of Flagler Beach Population, On Petition Opposing $600,000 Fire Truck
The 65-page petition, published here in full for public examination, has not been authenticated by the city, but would, if verified, pose a serious challenge to a majority of commissioners still intent on buying the fire truck.
Fearing Ambush, Cops and Medics “Stage” Before Responding to Reported Shooting in Bunnell
The incident took place just after midnight Thursday in South Bunnell: 911 got several calls about an alleged shooting and a victim who’d been injured, but threats against police on social media led to precautions against an ambush.
U.S. Marshals Shoot and Kill a Man In Espanola; He Was Sought for July Shooting in Bunnell
A man was shot and killed in Espanola this morning as the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve a fugitive warrant a home there.
Far From Settled, Whistleblower Case Against Flagler Beach Fire Department Focuses on Captain’s Truthfulness
Flagler Beach Fire Captain Bobby Pace’s truthfulness on his job application and his handling of a probationer’s work hours at the station were the focus of a deposition in which Pace repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment’s right not to testify. An attorney is seeking to compel him to answer. The matter goes to court Wednesday.
Xena Carrion, 17, of Palm Coast, Missing a Week, Is Back Home, Safe
Xena Carrion had run away from home on Aug. 5 after her grandfather reprimanded her for sneaking out of the house. She was returned safely on Aug. 13.