A circuit judge has denied ex-Flagler Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s motion to throw out the search warrant that led to evidence of allegedly illegally recorded conversations.
Cops/Courts
Gala Raises $70,600 For Newly-Created Flagler Sheriff’s Employee Trust Fund
Donations will support the well-being of sheriff’s employees and provide immediate financial assistance in emergencies not necessarily covered by insurance.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and Ammunition: Lawmakers Favor Guns in Churches
The Florida House and Senate have started moving forward with measures that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on the grounds of churches and other religious institutions that include schools.
Unusual Degree of Mayhem, But Also Success, Reflected in Sheriff’s Quarterly Awards
An award ceremony seemed to reflect the particular vigor and style of policing Rick Staly ushered in just over a year ago, when he became sheriff.
Two Suicides, 2 Attempted, 5 Baker Acts Between Saturday and Monday in Palm Coast
For the second time in three weeks, Flagler Sheriff’s deputies were confronted with a spike in mental health crises over 48 hours that underscored the county’s dearth of resources other than law enforcement.
Address Florida’s Deadly Rail Crossings Now, During 2018 Session
Between 2011 and 2017, there were a total of 105 deaths on more than 350 miles of Florida East Coast Railway tracks, which also run through Bunnell. A rail safety bill needs legislative support.
Counterfeiters Among Us: Several Palm Coast Businesses Targets of Bogus $100 Bills
Salsa’s, Domino’s, McDonald’s and a Mobil station were all targeted by a user of counterfeit bills, as was a man selling items on Craig’s List. The investigation is continuing.
From Ankle Monitors to a $165,000 Grant for an Extra Detective, Domestic Violence Initiative Keeps Momentum
The Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Task Force, far from disbanding, is continuing its varied initiatives, though the incidence of domestic violence in the county appears to be spiking.
In Last-Minute Reversal, Judge Agrees To More Lenient Plea in Maria Howell Case
After rejecting the deal last month, Circuit Judge Dennis Craig agreed to 18 months in prison for Maria Howell, who’d faced trial and possibly 15 years in prison over a molestation charge.
5-Hour Standoff With Woman Threatening Suicide Ends Peacefully on Point of Woods
Kathryn Hunter, 39, girlfriend of a man who killed himself on Jan. 9, surrendered to deputies in mid-afternoon after SWAT team members entered her house. She will be Baker Acted.
Cops’ Stop and Frisk Is Cut Back. Crime Doesn’t Spike. It Tumbles.
Police have radically cut back their controversial use of stop-and-frisk policies in New York. To the surprise of some, crime didn’t spike, but tumbled yet again.
Jimmie Brazell, 56, Struck and Killed As He Steps Out From Car On I-95 in Palm Coast
Jimmie Brazell, 56, was killed by a passing car as he walked across I-95 in Palm Coast after an argument with his new bride, who had asked him to pull over.
Bobby Gore Sentenced to 15 Years In Shooting Death of His Son in Flagler Beach as Judge Rebukes “Family Culture” of Firearms
Bobby Earl Gore, 74, shot his son Lucas, 31, last April at their Flagler Beach home, allegedly after Lucas had terrorized and humiliated him. A judge did not feel too much lenience was required in the sentence.
Strident Opposition to Roundabout at US1 and Old Dixie Even As Another Crash Results In Critical Injury
There was no doubt as to the near-unanimity and depth of opposition to a roundabout at the intersection of US1 and Old Dixie by the end of a one-hour public hearing.
Roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Will Save Lives, But Resistance Is Expected
Those used to roundabouts love them, those not hate them: traffic experts say the roundabout at US1 and Old Dixie can work well with good design and education.
Why Is Judge Craig Looking to Crucify Maria Howell?
Twice prosecutors and the defense agreed to a deal in the molestation case involving Maria Howell. Twice Judge Craig rejected the deal. The case is now headed for trial.
Reckless Driving, a Crash in an R-Section Front Yard and a Chase Ends in 2 Arrests
Jacquise D. Gaines Smith, 18, and Alvero Jackson, 23, were arrested in Palm Coast’s R-Section after a foot and air chase, after they fled the car they’d crashed in front yard.
Released From Jail on Jan. 9, Palm Coast Woman Found Dead In Her House 6 Days Later
Drugs may have played a role in the death of Jessica Coubrough, 55, just days after she’d spent two months in jail, where she could not access drugs.
Michael Cummings Charged With Murder in Wife’s Death on Point Pleasant Thursday; Sheriff Describes “Brutal” Attack
Michael Cummings was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife Faith Cummings Thursday in what the sheriff describes as a case of domestic violence that went out of control.
Michael Cummings Charged With Murder in Wife’s Death on Point Pleasant Thursday; Sheriff Describes “Brutal” Attack
With autopsy results in, the death of 44-year-old Faith Cummings at her Palm Coast home last week is now considered very suspicious, and people of interests are being sought.
Husband’s Arrest Adds Troubling Details To Wife’s Untimely Death on Point Pleasant
Used syringes were found in the house at 6 Point Pleasant Drive and Michael Cummings’s clothes were spotted with blood when he met a sheriff’s deputy. He was arrested for obstruction.
Sheriff’s Detectives Investigating Suspicious Death on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast
A woman in her 40s was reported dead this morning in her bathroom. Her husband was speaking with authorities, and the sheriff was at the scene, along with detectives.
Flagler’s Opioid Crisis Seen From Those Fighting It: A Severe Lack of Treatment Beds, Drug Court at Capacity, Jail as a Waiting Room
The most comprehensive picture of the opioid crisis in Flagler County came to light today in a gathering of Flagler County judges, top cops, medical, social and government services. Here are the details.
Proposal To Toughen Penalties For Texting While Driving Gains on 1st Day
With support from the House speaker, a proposal to make texting while driving a “primary” offense in Florida received unanimous support Tuesday from a House panel as the 2018 legislative session opened.
Prosecution Intends To Try Paul Dykes Twice More Even as He Faces Life in Prison
Paul Dykes was found guilty of directing the rape of a 1-year-old child last month, but prosecutors want to try him two more times on related charges, they told a circuit judge today.
Man Takes His Own Life in a Car on SR100 as Sheriff’s Negotiators Were On Their Way
A man took his own life by gunshot in a car on State Road 100’s westbound lanes, in front of the Mobil station and convenience store, at dawn Tuesday.
Jonathan Lord Takes Over Flagler’s Emergency Management as Its 6th Chief in 12 Years
Jonathan Lord, 43, had for more than two years been deputy director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, overseeing the statewide response to Hurricanes Hermine, Matthew and Irma firsthand.
Virginia-Based Hoax Threat to “MHS” Unrelated to Matanzas High School
A Snapchat threat to a school in Virginia with the same acronym as Matanzas High School in Palm Coast drew many calls to the sheriff’s office Sunday.
19 Year Old Arrested By Sheriff Last Week For Reckless Driving Rearrested on Hit-and-Run and Cocaine Charges
Jacob Reardon is accused of speeding through the B Section when he crashed his car into a parked Nissan and fled the scene, along with his girlfriend. Cops quickly located him.
Sod-Laden Semi Overturns at Palm Coast Parkway Off U.S. 1, Closing Eastbound Lanes
The truck was driving north on U.S. 1. It was making the sharp right turn onto the parkway when it overturned. No one was hurt.
One Suicide, 10 Baker Acts: New Year Weekend’s Mental Health Toll Taxes Flagler Deputies
Baker Acts are a reflection of the county’s needs for mental health services, needs that are largely unmet despite recurring calls by county, police and mental health officials to improve matters.
Collateral Damage of Florida’s Opioid Crisis: Children
Contending with tales of children discovered in the backseats of cars with their parents passed out from drug overdoses in the front, or toddlers left alone in fetid apartments for days while drug-addled mothers or fathers scour the streets for a fix.
A Few Months Out of State Prison, Dacotah Clarke Is Back In Jail on Slew of Charges
Dacotah Clarke had been imprisoned on an armed robbery charged and was released on probation only to be rearrested, along with Steve Young, on nine charges on Dec. 30.
Palm Coast Man Charged With Attempting to Electrocute His Wife 2 Days After Christmas
In one of the strangest cases in recent memory, Michael S. Wilson, 32, is accused of rigging the front door of his wife’s house in Palm Coast’s W-Section with live electrical current.
2 Stolen Cars, Chase on SR100, and Arrest of 2 Teens, One With History of Car and Gun Thefts
Sammy Rozier, 16, had been released from detention days earlier when he was rearrested Tuesday on charges of stealing a car and leading cops on a chase through Palm Coast and Bunnell.
Douglas C. Egan, 56, Takes His Own Life Near His Home in Seminole Woods
Douglas Egan of 4 Seward Trail was found dead of a gunshot wound the afternoon of Christmas day. He had sent a text to his wife in New York the previous evening saying to call police.
Roger Teachworth, 60, of Palm Coast, Is Killed In a Freak Vehicle Accident in His Garage
Roger Teachworth, a 60-year-old resident of 7 Biscay Lane Palm Coast, was pinned by his pick-up truck in his garage the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
Flagler County’s 911 System Getting a $270,000 Upgrade, Adding Voice and Text Messaging
Texting abilities to 911 should be operational in Flagler County by the end of 2018. The grant was awarded by the state, with funding generated from a 40-cent statewide surcharge on phone lines.
Paul Deatherage, 31, Is Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash on U.S. 1, North of Whiteview
Paul Deatherage lost control of a Toyota pick-up, drifting into the median, over-correcting, and ending up in the shoulder before violently striking a tree. He was extricated but pronounced dead at the scene.
“You’re Getting Arrested by The Sheriff For That Kind of Driving,” Staly Tells 19 Year Old
Jacob Reardon, who just months ago was cited for going 84 in a 40, was arrested by Sheriff Rick Staly Wednesday evening, going 112 on I-95. He was also charged with pot possession.
Palm Coast Man Accused Of Assaulting Deputy, Threaten His Life and Make Him “Disappear”
A domestic situation on Palm Coast’s Postman lane had gone out of control when sheriff’s deputies arrived, with William Closson, 46, allegedly escalating a confrontation with a deputy.
For Richard Westervelt, Long Series of Arrests and Evasions Ends in 5-Year Prison Term
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig rejected a more lenient prison term for Richard Westervelt of Palm Coast, who’s been arrested 13 times and faced 44 felonies and misdemeanors since 2010.
Woody’s BBQ at Flagler Plaza Is Burglarized For First Time in 18 Years
Two windows were smashed in in an apparent attempt to steal from the cash register, which was empty. Damage from the burglary was valued at almost $5,000, according to a sheriff’s report.
Bunnell Man, 46, Accused of Raping Girl Since She was 8 and Molesting Another at Sleep-Over
The alleged assaults came to light after a sleep-over involving a 15 year old girl who’d gone to Bowling’s house to see her 15-year-old friend in June 2016.
Barney Davis, 56, Critically Injured in Motorcycle Crash on Seminole Woods By RaceTrac, Dies
There was no contact between Barney Davis’s motorcycle and a van as Davis attempted evasive action after the van cut in front of him, FHP said.
Masked Gunman Robs Shell Station at Club House Drive, Suspect Arrested Within Hours
Charles E. Rushing-Griffen, 27, was booked at the Flagler County jail at 5:23 this morning as the suspect in an armed robbery by a masked gunman at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
Bigamy Charge Revived Against Palm Coast Sex Offender With Long, Violent Criminal History
Paul Stout, a Bunnell resident with a violent criminal history in three states, was rearrested on a bigamy charge he had first faced in 2013, when the State Attorney’s office dropped it.
Early Morning Fire on Wellstream Lane Makes Home Uninhabitable For Family of Five
The fire broke out in the chimney at the 3,500-square-foot, two-level house at 68 Wellstream Lane in Palm Coast just before 1:30 this morning. It then spread to the roof.
In Florida, You Can Lose Your Driver’s License For Jaywalking–Especially If You’re Black
Sen. Jeff Brandes has repeatedly introduced measures that would prohibit driver’s license suspensions for non-driving offenses. But Clerks of court stand to lose $40 million annually if the law is modified.
Christmas With a Deputy Marks 10th Year By Increasing Shopping-Spree Sleighs to 125 Children
This Friday 125 children will get to go on a Christmas shopping spree with a cop and a gift card at Target, getting there in a long convoy of cop cars, lights and sirens blaring.