Two Palm Coast men were arrested on felony child abuse charges in separate incidents Tuesday. The children involved were 16 and 9.
Cops/Courts
Asbestos Found in Window Caulking at Sheriff’s Future Palm Coast Precinct; Opening Delayed
Modest amounts of asbestos were found in the building the county recently bought and is renovating into a Palm Coast substation for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Overlooked Evidence Between Blood Spatters Undermines Prosecution in Canales’s Attempted Murder Trial
The prosecution’s first day unwittingly revealed that a crime scene investigator missed key evidence in the shooting of Tiffany Norman in Jonathan Canales’s trial on an attempted first-degree murder charge.
A Man Is Shot in a Car on Palm Coast’s White Star Drive, Assailants Flee
A man in his car was shot early this morning in the chest in front of 46 White Star Drive in Palm Coast by assailants who immediately fled.
Man Stabs Himself on I-95 Near Palm Coast Parkway and Claims to Have Harmed Companion
A man brought I-95’s southbound traffic to a standstill during rush hour Monday morning in Palm Coast after he repeatedly stabbed himself in his pick-up truck and claimed he had earlier harmed his companion in Jacksonville.
Saying Scott ‘Exceeded His Authority,’ Supreme Court Rules Next Governor Will Appoint 3 Justices, Not Scott
The winner of the Nov. 6 election between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum “has the sole authority” to fill the court vacancies, the court ruled.
Flagler County Emergency and Rescue Teams Part of Big Response as Panhandle Reels from Hurricane
Flagler County’s contributions includes Health Department Administrator Bob Snyder and Emergency Chief Jonathan Lord, among others sent to regions that have no functioning government structure.
Judge Rules Prior Allegations of Threats and Violence Admissible in Jonathan Canales’s Trial for Attempted Murder of Ex
Jonathan Canales, 31, goes on trial Monday on attempted first-degree murder of his ex-fiancee, Tiffany Norman, four years ago in the Mondex. Today’s ruling was a blow to his defense.
Bizarre Burglary at Palm Coast Airbnb in W-Section Rattles Vacation for Two Swedish Teens
The two 18-year-old Swedes had rented the house on Woodlawn Drive through Airbnb when Leonard J. Tadeo, 58, allegedly smashed a window to gain access to the garage Tuesday morning.
Nearly 400,000 Without Power as Florida Shifts to Search and Rescue in Michael’s Wake
The Category 4 storm created storm surges up to 14 feet in areas, inflicted damages across Tyndall Air Force Base east of Panama City and spawned at least two “devastating” tornadoes in Gadsden County.
Flagler Sheriff’s Kershaw and Sabatini Win National Award For Bridging Gap Between Cops and Citizens
Brittany Kershaw and Shannon Sabatini of the sheriff’s public affairs office were recognized for a series of videos intended to bridge the agency’s ranks with the community.
SUV Flips, Traps and Injures Woman, 21, in Crash With Flagler County Ambulance on Old Kings Road
Gabrielle Julia Connors, 21, of Palm Coast, crashed into a Flagler County Fire Rescue ambulance that was making an illegal U-turn at Farnum Lane on Old Kings Road early the morning of Oct. 6.
Pedro Emilio Marin, 79, Is Killed in Single-Car Crash Against Utility Pole on U.S. 1 Near Whiteview Pkwy
A man was killed on U.S. 1 at 9:30 this morning when his car veered off the road and slammed into a concrete, high-power-line utility pole on the west side of the road.
Two Construction Workers Are Electrocuted and Killed As Boom Strikes Power Line in Seminole Woods
Two construction workers working on a house at Selma Trail and Sesame Boulevard in Palm Coast’s Seminole Woods were killed around 9 a.m. when their equipment struck a power line, electrocuting them both. They died instantly.
Several Multiple-Vehicle Crashes and Semi Fire Shut Down I-95 South at Palm Coast Parkway; 1 Death
A multiple-vehicle crash on I-95 near Palm Coast Parkway before dawn this morning led to a manhunt for one of the drivers and a shut-down of I-95 south and two lanes of I-95 north.
Brian O’Dell, 35, of Palm Coast’s P-Section, Faces 5 Counts of Unlawful Sex With 16-Year-Old Neighbor
The victim was a friend of O’Dell’s daughter, would often spend time at his house, and he would walk her to and from her school bus stop regularly.
Validating Mold Fears, CDC Points to ‘Water Intrusion’ And Calls For Look Behind Walls at Sheriff’s Operations Center
An interim CDC report on the sheriff’s possibly sick operations center appears to vindicates fears that mold may be growing behind walls and within the building’s “envelope.”
As Jonathan Canales’s Trial for Attempted Murder Nears, Ex Alleges History of Violence Before He Shot Her
Tiffany Norman, 29, for the first time in court spoke of her life with Jonathan Canales leading up to the night when he allegedly shot her in the neck with a rifle as her three young children slept in the family’s trailer in the Mondex in 2014.
State Attorney Drops Battery Charge Against Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, Closing the Case
The domestic battery misdemeanor charge against Eric Cooley was dropped Friday morning after the prosecution failed to convince the alleged victim to cooperate, ending the three-month case against the Flagler Beach city commissioner and 7-Eleven owner.
Two More Apparent Overdose Deaths in 8 Days, in Palm Coast and in Mondex
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths of 31-year-old William D. Scott of Palm Coast and 49-year-old Maxie Nieves of the Mondex.
After Granting Stay, Supreme Court Clears Way for Execution of Murderer Jose Antonio Jimenez
Jimenez had cited a February execution of Death Row inmate Eric Branch, who reportedly screamed and made body movements as he was being executed, among reasons not to proceed.
Flagler Emergency Alerts Switch to More Flexible System, But Residents Urged to Re-Enroll
CodeRed users and others must enroll in Flagler County’s new AlertFlagler emergency notification system for weather, law enforcement and other critical events.
Four-Vehicle, Two-Truck Crash on U.S. 1 Near Church on the Rock Sends 6 to Hospital
A multi-vehicle crash involving a pick-up truck and a trailer, a U-Haul truck and two SUVs on U.S. 1 near Church on the Rock in Bunnell sent six people to Florida Hospital Flagler early Monday afternoon.
20-Foot Boat Takes Unexpected Land Detour, Crashing In to Palm Harbor Golf Club Sign
A 20-foot blue center-console boat crashed into the Palm Harbor Golf Club sign at the corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Palm Harbor Parkway Saturday evening. No one was hurt.
Mark Klos of Flagler Beach Found Dead of Apparent Suicide in His Jail Cell Days After Arrest Over Death Threats
Mark Klos, 72, of Flagler Beach, had been arrested Thursday (Sept. 27) after allegedly writing brutal and graphic death threats against a building contractor.
An 18-Month-Old Is in ICU After Narcotic Overdose as Family Makes Up Stories to Cops
The 18-month-old child’s mother reported he reached into her purse and took two Subutex pills, the powerful narcotic prescribed to people fighting addiction.
2 Teens Arrested on Burglary and Grand Theft Charges Following Morning Sweep in Palm Coast’s B-Section
The 16-year-old boy arrested this morning on grand theft and burglary charges, along with his cousin, had been arrested days ago on similar charges and had pledged to turn his life around.
Rick Scott Presses His Case For Making Midnight Appointments to Florida Supreme Court
In a case that could alter the future of Florida’s highest court, Scott’s lawyers said the governor retains the power to select replacements for justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who are all leaving in January.
Jerry Forte, Humbler Side of Clout, Becomes Palm Coast’s Fire Chief as Mike Beadle Rides Off In an RV
Jerry Forte became Palm Coast’s second fire chief in 19 years today as he took over for Mike Beadle in an emotional ceremony attended by some 250 people.
Judge Moore-Stens Denies Gag Order on Sheriff, Dissolving Mound of Motions In Eric Cooley Case
Telling the attorney seeking a gag order on Sheriff Rick Staly that he was on a “fishing expedition,” County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens this afternoon denied the motion, ending an unusual sideshow in the battery case against Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley.
Memories of Heartbreak, Triumph and Farewells at Flagler’s 32nd Drug Court Graduation
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig returned to preside over Flagler’s drug court graduation for the last time and saw goodbye to 11-year coordinator and tough cop Mike Greenier.
Claiming Judge Moore-Stens “Abused” Her Discretion, Sheriff Staly Appeals to Circuit Court for Stay on Subpoena
Sheriff Staly and his office in a flurry of legal moves today attempted to quash a subpoena that would have him testify Thursday in Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley’s case of alleged domestic violence.
Ricky Wheeler Found Alive and Unhurt
Ricky Wheeler, the 17-year-old boy who disappeared Friday, was found alive and unhurt in an area near the Town Center Publix at around 6:30 p.m.
Waste Pro Recycling Hauler Is Severely Injured as His Own Truck Runs Over Him in
Palm Coast’s B Section
A Waste Pro garbage hauler was severely injured today when he was run over by his own truck as he and his partner were on a recycling run through Palm Coast’s B Section.
Sheriff Staly Must Testify on His Own ‘Prejudicial’ Language in Cooley Case as Judge Upholds Subpoena
It is the most striking development yet in the high-profile domestic-violence case against Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, roping in the sheriff in unexpected ways. He is fighting the subpoena.
Mother Who Kidnapped Her Children Pleads Guilty to 2 Felonies and Is Sentenced to Jail and Probation
Sarah Jones, 29, less than two months kidnapped her own two children from their grandparents’ home, and faced two first-degree felony counts. She pleaded to two third-degree felonies.
Head-On Crash on Palm Coast’s Royal Palms Parkway Sends 2 Women to Hospital
In Trauma Alerts
Two Palm Coast women were severely injured Saturday morning when their cars collided head-on on Royal Palms Parkway at 7:17 a.m.
Obtravies Watkins, 35, Is Guilty of Attempted Murder and Rape and Sentenced to Life in Prison
Obtravies Watkins was found guilty for what turned into the kidnapping of a Daytona Beach prostitute, whom he then brutalized and left for dead off Old Kings Road in Palm Coast.
Sheriff Seeking Fugitive Felon Accused of Unlicensed Contracting Fraud
Yosvel Basart, 35, a fugitive felon, is accused of defrauding a Palm Coast woman of $3,600 after passing himself off as a contractor ready to rebuild her driveway.
Sheriff Files Criminal Charges Against Dr. Florence Fruehan, Alleging Pattern of Inappropriate Touching
At least five women have now come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching by Florence Fruehan, the Palm Coast physician who agreed to surrender his license last month.
Attorney Calls For Gag Order on Sheriff Staly in Eric Cooley Case, Claiming Prejudicial Words
Palm Coast Attorney Josh Davis wants a court to muzzle Sheriff Rick Staly in the case of alleged domestic violence involving Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley. The sheriff is having none of it.
41-Year-Old Man, Out on Bond On Sex Charge, Accused of Drugging and Raping 16 Year Old
Victor Williams, 40, of Palm Coast’s B Section, is accused of drugging and raping a 16-year-old boy, and was facing a charge of luring a minor for sex last year.
Flagler Ready to Pay $1 Million To Fix Sheriff’s Building? Bogus Claim, County Says
County Commission Candidate Dennis McDonald says Commissioner Dave Sullivan told him it would take $1 million to fix the Operations Center, a claim Sullivan says is false.
Three Suicides Averted in 2 Days As 911 Dispatchers and Deputies Defuse Chilling Situations
Over the weekend, authorities converged on three suicide attempts–by gun in Flagler Beach, by hanging and by cop off a county road in western Flagler, and by knife in Palm Coast’s K-Section.
Escaped Pit Bull Attacks and Kills Chihuahua on Palm Coast’s Fortune Lane
The chihuahua was on a leash when the pit bull attacked and mauled it Sunday evening. The pit bull does not appear to be at risk of being declared a dangerous dog. At least not yet.
2018 Flagler Jail Bookings, Sheriff’s, Bunnell and Flagler Beach Crime and Incident Reports (Archived)
Archived 2018 Flagler County jail bookings, commanders’ crime and incident reports, Flagler Beach and Bunnell police shift reports and archive.
Thefts, Hit-and-Run With Injury and Graham Swamp Search Lead to Arrest of Frequent Felon
Jonathan DeMartino, 37, faces four felony counts after a run of alleged property and other crimes, one of them injuring a woman in a Palm Coast Parkway hit-and-run.
13 Years in Prison For Matthew Nesbitt, Who’d Threatened Cops With a Knife in Z-Section Chase
The three-hour sentencing hearing devolved at times into a shouting match and disbelief over suggestions that cops should not be scared by a knife-wielding man.
At least 100 Pounds of Pot Wash Up on Hammock Shore, But No Finders Keepers as Man Is Arrested
A 61-year-old man was arrested in the Hammock Thursday for allegedly grabbing an 11-pound brick of pot that had washed up on shore.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley’s Victim of Alleged Battery Wants Case Dropped
The alleged victim in the battery case against Flagler Beach business owner and Commissioner Eric Cooley cites media and social media “stalking” among reasons she wants the case dropped.