Sprinklers triggered by the fire caused more of a disruption than the fire itself, but most activities and normal dismissal were not affected.
Cops/Courts
Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Day 3: Unearthing Details of a Killing and Its Elaborate Cover-Up
!['This part here is the entrance of [where] the bullet punched in,” Predrag Bulic, the chief medical examiner of the Seventh Judicial District, who conducted the autopsy of Charles Singer, told the jury in the trial of Dorothy Singer, who is accused of murdering her husband. He was shot five times, four times in the head. She said at the defense table, without looking at the screen. (c FlaglerLive)](https://flaglerlive.com/wp-content/uploads/bulic-gunshot.jpg)
The prosecution today focused on the five shots that killed Charles Singer and the three months of cover-ups his wife Dorothy concocted until her arrest.
In Lawsuit, Pam Bondi Accuses Pill Manufacturers of Causing Opioid Crisis
Bondi filed a civil suit accusing five of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers and four distributors of causing the opioid crisis that is killing an average 15 Floridians daily.
Lucille Horton Acquitted In Death of Husband In Grand Haven Vehicular Homicide Case
Lucille Horton was accused of throwing off her husband Richard Resnicoff, who’d sat on her car’s trunk, during a domestic dispute in 2013, leading to Resnicoff’s death after he hit the pavement.
Flagler School Board Unanimously Approves 13 Deputies in Schools, Ending Tiff With Sheriff
The $1.8 million agreement almost splits costs between the sheriff and the school board and doubles the number of deputies in schools in the first post-Parkland massacre contract.
On Trial For Husband’s Murder, Dorothy Singer’s Own Words and Fabrications Dig Deep Grave
Dorothy Singer, accused of murdering and burying her husband in their west-Flagler backyard, wove a web of lies to detectives and friends to explain her husband’s disappearance, as the jury heard today.
At Flagler Sheriff’s Ceremony For Fallen Officers, Feeling Pain Of ‘Loss Across the Nation’
Fagler County’s five fallen deputies over the years were recognized Monday evening, and the sheriff’s tactical center was renamed after Sheriff Homer Brooks.
Court Upholds Shifting Burden of Proof to Prosecution in Stand Your Ground Cases
With backing from the NRA the Legislature in 2017 shifted the burden from defendants to prosecutors to prove whether self-defense claims are justified.
Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Starts Against Sharp Defense Objections Over Rules of Evidence
The lawyer for Dorothy Singer filed a motion for an emergency stay with an appeals court after losing attempts to delay the trial over evidence being provided late.
Defense Calls For Judge Craig To Be Disqualified From Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Following String of Startling Statements
Dorothy Singer is on trial Monday for allegedly murdering her husband Charles in West Flagler last year, but the defense claims the judge has made a series of statements that betray favoritism for the state.
Two Critical, One Air-Lifted In SUV v. Motorcycle Crash at US 1 Near Atlantis Center
Kimberly D. Boyer of Palm Coast is likely to lose her leg after getting thrown from a motorcycle in a crash with an SUV on U.S. 1 in Bunnell. William Westervelt of Bunnell was also in critical condition.
5 Years in Prison for Allen D. Adams in DUI Death of Brittany Pitt on Old Dixie
Allen Adams, 30, will serve a minimum of four years out of a possible five, 10 years’ probation and lose his driver’s license for life over the DUI death of Brittany Pitt, 26.
No Move to Plug Budget Despite Warnings About Cuts to Prisons’ Substance-Abuse Programs
The Senate appropriations chairman said lawmakers aren’t planning to plug a $28 million budget gap at the Florida Department of Corrections until next year.
A Year Later, a Palm Coast Man Is Arrested in Hit and Run Crash That left Cyclist Critical On SR100
Michael Darryl Bailey, a 61-year-old resident of Palm Coast, was allegedly drunk when he struck cyclist Kerry Lee Milich on State Road 100 a year ago.
Palm Coast Man, ‘Known Blood Gang Member,’ Arrested on Charges of 2 Drive-By Shootings
Tariq D. Khawaja, 26, of Palm Coast’s P Section, faces felony charges over two drive-by shootings he allegedly conducted to recover a stolen gun.
Richard Kuhn, 79, Dies, Wife Hurt in Single-Vehicle Crash On U.S. 1 Near Scales
Richard Kuhn was taking his wife Joan to a clinic in Jacksonville. She was transported to Halifax. Their daughter, in the back seat, was not hurt.
Swip-Swappers Get a Safer Trading and Exchange Zone Outside Flagler Sheriff’s Office
To minimize transactions going wrong, the Flagler Sheriff’s Office has set up a safe-trade -e-commerce exchange zone under video surveillance outside its operations center.
Grand Jury Indicts Michael Cummings For 1st Degree Murder in Death of Ex-Wife on Point Pleasant
Michael Cummings had initially been charged with second-degree murder. Today’s grand jury indictment is a surprise, finding premeditation in the alleged killing.
Felony Child Abuse Charges For Father of 3 Allegedly Driving Drunk With Children in Backseat
Ryan D. Cornwell, a 24-year-old resident of Farragut Drive in Palm Coast, and Rebecca Knowles, 64, of Prosperity Lane in Palm Coast, both face felony child abuse charges in separate arrests.
Sheriff’s Palm Coast Precinct Moving Near Island Walk for $1 Million, Ending Nomadic Years
The Flagler Sheriff’s Palm Coast Precinct will move from City Marketplace to Palm Harbor Way, in the old Wachovia bank building that will be county property.
W-Section Neighbors Accuse Naked Man of Fondling Himself as He Stared At Them From His Garage
Four witnesses reported to authorities that their neighbor on Westlee Lane in Palm Coast had exposed himself in his garage, stared at some of them and masturbated.
Flagler Judge DuPont’s Fate in Supreme Court’s Hands As He Pleads For ‘Second Chance’
Flagler and Putnam Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, facing removal, filed his last pleading before the Florida Supreme Court decides his fate in the next few weeks.
Florida Prisons’ 40% Cut in Substance-Abuse and Mental-Health Treatment Draw Criticism
Some $7.6 million in substance-abuse services in prisons will be eliminated, Another $1.6 million will be cut in transitional housing services.
One Month in Jail, 2 Years’ Probation For Man Who Assaulted Teen at Epic Theater
C.J. Nelson, the 40-year-old Palm Coast father of eight previously accused of child abuse, could have faced up to five years in prison before a jury convicted him on lesser charges.
Compromise Over School Deputies in Flagler, But Look Beyond False Security of “Hardening”
There’s an effective way to end the stalemate between the Flagler Sheriff and the school board over deputies in schools without breaking the bank or compromising security.
Palm Coast Man Cops Visited Over Facebook Posting Is Jailed on Injunction Violation
Tony Lagano of Palm Coast’s Fernwood Drive drew cops’ attention last month for a Facebook posting where he alluded to a school shooting. He was jailed for violating an injunction on April 28.
Hit-and-Run Driver of Kia Forte Sought in Head-On Crash On Palm Harbor Parkway
Tiffany A. Fugit, 25, was driving her Honda Accord north on Palm Harbor Parkway on April 27 when the driver of a silver Kia Forte crossed the yellow line and crashed into her, then fled.
Florida Prisons Cut Drug-Rehab and Re-Entry Programs That Help Felons From Re-Offending
Florida’s prisons are slashing substance-abuse services, transitional housing and re-entry programs, the very programs that keep inmates from returning to prison.
Alert Issued For Brianna Day, 15, Missing From Palm Coast Home Since April 26
Brianna Day, 15, a resident of 3 Westbrook Place in Palm Coast and a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School, has been missing since April 26.
Rift Widens Between Sheriff and School Board Over Deputies’ Cost For Flagler Schools
At least an $88,000 rift divides Flagler’s sheriff from the school board as they negotiate to have deputies at every school come August. The divide may be larger when mental health money is included.
A Flagler Jail Employee Is Arrested Over Pot Possession at Work, Jail’s 6th Serious Issue In a Year
Victoria Ferguson, a 30-year-old employee in the CCTV hub, was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly stashing marijuana in her locker at work.
Sheriff Touts 45 Drug Arrests in Flagler in 7-Month Operation, Part of Broader But Cyclical Effort
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly hosted a press conference with Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Putnam’s Gator DeLoach to highlight a 27-county, 7-month drug investigation they took part in.
Roundabout Construction at US1 and Old Dixie Will Start In a Few Months Despite Opposition
Construction of the much-opposed roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway in Flagler is expected to start after August absent intervention by the governor or lawmakers.
20-Year Sheriff’s Employee Fired After Investigations Into Timesheet Discrepancies
Nancy Birdsong, an employee in the judicial process fugitive unit, was fired on April 24 and faces a felony charge of grand theft over allegedly fabricating timesheets.
Keith Johansen Arrested in Shooting Death of Wife Brandi Celenza, Faces 2nd Degree Murder Charge
Keith Johansen, 36, was arrested shortly after 4 p.m. today at his Palm Coast home and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Brandi Celenza, 20 days ago.
10-Month-Old Girl, Unattended, Drowns in Family Pool in Palm Coast’s E-Section
A Palm Coast girl who would have celebrated her first birthday on June 6 died Thursday afternoon after drowning in the pool at her home on Edward Drive.
Making Allusions to Oklahoma Bombing, Palm Coast Man Threatens to Blow Up Flagler Sheriff’s Office and Kill Rick Staly
Raymond Crown, 52, threatened to blow up the Sheriff’s Office in Bunnell with ammonium nitrate, kill a deputy and the sheriff after he was arrested for a criminal mischief incident in the Hammock.
Joanne Jones, 84, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in T-Bone Crash at Utility Drive and Old Kings Road
Joanne Jones, 84, was pinned and killed in a t-bone crash at the intersection of Utility Drive and Old Kings Road at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Two others–a man and a woman–suffered minor injuries.
Clarity on Shooting Death of Brandi Celenza in F-Section May Take Weeks, Possibly Months
Sheriff Rick Staly said it could be months before the case of 25-year-old Brandi Celenza’s death by gunshot is resolved. But the sheriff said he is confident of a resolution.
Sticking With Motorola, Flagler Rejects Bid Protest Over $14.8 Million Contract For Emergency Communications
The Flagler County Commission in a special meeting today rejected Communications International’s protest over a bid that went to Motorola to build critical emergency communications infrastructure.
Two Flagler School Buses Involved In Minor Incidents In Thursday’s Afternoon Runs
Neither incident was serious, but at least one of them led to inaccurate rumors on social media that a weapon was involved: it never was.
AR-15s in Flagler Schools, Traffic Cops in Mustangs, New Marine Unit: Sheriff Staly’s State of Policing
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly spoke to some 75 people Thursday on a re-energized state of policing in Palm Coast and the county, summing up initiatives and coming developments.
Spirit Ride’s Coffin Honoring Fallen Tow Operators and Other Emergency Responders Makes Ceremonial Stop in Bunnell
The ceremonial casket is part of American Towman’s Spirit Ride pilgrimage through 200 cities across the country to bring attention to the dangers emergency responders face every day.
A Palm Coast Resident Says “School Shooting” In a Facebook Video That Has Nothing To Do with School Shootings. Cops Show Up.
Tony Lagano, 35, was upset over a family court issue and alluded to a school shooting in a sarcastic Facebook video last week, only to be visited by sheriff’s deputies.
Matanzas High School Girl Reports Being Raped By Another Juvenile at Her Home
An investigation is ongoing into the allegation of a rape of a 16-year-old girl after the alleged perpetrator asked to meet the girl to “catch up.”
Flagler School Board Wants To Snoop on Students’ Social Media, And Maybe Yours. Wrong Move.
The School Board is set to contract with Social Sentinel, a company that will troll social media accounts across Flagler for $18,500 and issue “alerts” to select officials. It’s an inappropriate move down a slippery slope.
Ballot Proposal Would Ensure Crime Victims Have Their Say in Plea Agreements and Sentencing
The proposal, which will need support from 60 percent of voters in November, would seek to ensure the rights of victims to receive information and provide input during criminal cases.
Wendell Parker, 32, Killed, Woman Critical in Head-On I-95 Collision North of Palm Coast Parkway
A man was killed early this morning and a woman is in critical condition following a head-on collision on I-95, just north of the interchange with Palm Coast Parkway..
7 New Sheriff’s Deputies, 143% Cost Increase as Outline of Flagler’s School Safety Takes Shape
Sheriff Staly and Superintendent Tager are negotiating an increase of the school deputies’ program to $1.8 million split 50-50, with the schools’ share paid by the state and the sheriff’s by the County Commission.
Flagler Judge Scott DuPont Called “Unfit,” “Outrageous,” “Disturbing,” “Beyond Reckless” and Contemptuous of Law
A devastating 21-page opinion by a disciplinary judicial commission repeats in harsher language a call for Judge Scott DuPont’s removal, a recommendation going before the Supreme Court.