Jonathan Canales was arrested for attempted first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his wife from behind as she ate dinner in the couple’s kitchen in the Mondex, moments after putting her three children to bed.
Cops/Courts
New Sheriff’s HQ Square Footage Grows By a Third Even as Construction Cost Falls to $4.2 Million
Instead of a $6.2 million demolition and construction project, the lowest bid for the sheriff’s HQ came in at $4.2 million, with the sheriff gaining 9,000 more square feet in the bargain, for a total of 35,000 square feet.
Patron at Flagler’s Domestic Violence Shelter Arrested Over Assault on a Pregnant Woman
A woman who’d been taking refuge at the Family Life Center in Bunnell was jailed after an alleged assault on an advocate and a pregnant woman there. Separately, two women were jailed following a fight in which one of them fabricated claims that she’d been stabbed.
In Palm Coast, Ferguson Unrest Echoes With Muted Anger and Calls For Responsibility
Speakers at a quickly organized “call to action” by the Flagler NAACP Tuesday evening said the killing in Ferguson was no exception, but that change begins from within communities and with more accountability on all sides.
Scott Signs 21st Death Warrant 3 Days After UN Vote Calling for Capital Punishment Moratorium
The warrant is for the execution of Johnny Shane Kormondy, 42, accused of murdering Gary McAdams and participating in the gang rape of his wife Cecilia during a robbery in Pensacola in 1991, when Kormondy was 21.
Sheriff Jim Manfre Faces $1,500 Fine in Ethics Violation as Report Details Travel, Gift and Spending Lapses
The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Sheriff Jim Manfre violated ethics laws on three counts, but in an agreement, Manfre conceded to one violation and got two other charges dismissed.
Palm Coast Suspends Part of Red-Light Camera Enforcement, But $158 Fines Still Being Issued
While still issuing $158 fines for red-light violations, Palm Coast is for now no longer pursuing drivers who refuse to pay, so those drivers will not get the steeper $264 traffic citation. But those citations may be issued pending the outcome of a court case.
After “Doubling Down on Stupid,” Lakeland Is Forced to Pay $160,000 in Public Record Settlement
A Lakeland resident filed the lawsuit against the city’s Police Department because the department insisted on illegally charging a flat $23.50 fee for routine requests instead of charging per page or for time worked.
For Shane Kitchens, Left in 30-Day Coma After Collision on A1A, a Painful Roll Back
Shane Kitchens, the 37-year-old Flagler Beach business owner, was crossing A1A in August when a motorcycle struck him as if he wasn’t there. This is the story of his recovery since.
Said to Have Been Framed For Tampa Murder, Deaf Convict Felix Garcia Is Denied Release
Felix Garcia’s supporters had hoped he would be released with time served, arguing that he’d been unable to understand the evidence against him during the murder trial and wasn’t given an interpreter.
Even As Lawsuit Gets in the Way, Sheriff and Union Agree that “Substantial” Raises Are Due
Sheriff’s deputies and other employees have been without a serious raise in five years and the sheriff and union are at a negotiating impasse, but both sides are attempting to reach agreement on a small prize: a 1 percent raise the county commission pledged employees this year.
A Man Is Killed in Wreck at US1 and SR100 Following Traffic Stop by Police
A man who was apparently evading police was killed after striking three vehicles at the intersection of State Road 100 and U.S. 1 in Bunnell this afternoon.
Ex-Felon Re-Arrested for Domestic Assault After Chasing After a Woman in Front of a Cop
Brian Spencer, a 36-year-old ex-felon released less than two years ago from state prison after serving sentence for domestic battery by strangulation, was arrested again as he chased a woman on a Palm Coast street in the middle of the night–in front of a cop.
Tornado Watch Cancelled for Flagler-Palm Coast, Schools Cancel Outdoor Activities, Games and Practices
A broad band of severe weather is bearing down on Flagler County and Palm Coast, where a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued until 3 p.m., and a tornado watch will remain in effect until 6 p.m.
A Mother of 3 Is Shot in the Mondex in Murky Circumstances; Husband Jailed on Child Neglect Charges
The victim, Tiffany Norman, has three young children, none older than 8 or 9. Circumstances of the shooting are murky: her husband or companion, Jonathan Canales, 27, has allegedly told police that Norman shot herself, but that remains unconfirmed.
Louis Prinzo, Responsible for Death of Lane Burnsed and Meredith Smith in ’12, Is Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
Lane Burnsed, 18, and Meredith Smith, 17, were killed on July 26, 2012 in a 3-car wreck on I-95 triggered by Louis Prinzo.
Two Pit Bulls Attack and Injure 10-Year-Old Autistic Boy in Palm Coast’s Z-Section
A 10-year-old autistic boy was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon with dog bites to both legs after he was chased and bitten by two pit bulls from his neighbors’ house on Zonal Court in Palm Coast.
Road Rage Bleeds Into Racial Confrontation On Belle Terre Parkway, and 3 Arrests
Samantha Smith, 25, Zachary Parsley, 22, and Tyler Parsley, 23, face assault charges after confronting four young black men, allegedly fighting and threatening to kill them and repeatedly calling them niggers.
P-Section Confrontation: She Drives Her Car Into Him. He Shoots the Car. Both Arrested.
Kurt Benjamin, 27, of 31 Poinsettia Lane, and Twila Woods, 30, of nearby Point Pleasant Lane, were both jailed on aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges Sunday morning.
Cruel and Unusual: 2 Inmates Who Murdered as Juveniles Challenge Their Life Sentences
Two inmates serving life in prison for murders committed as juveniles are challenging their sentences based on a 2012 US Supreme Court ruling that bans mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
Sheriff Manfre Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Unpaid Wages, Jeopardizing Raise for Troops
Four ex-deputies have sued Sheriff Jim Manfre in federal court over briefings they were forced to attend without being paid, causing the Sheriff to shelve a 1 percent raise previously due the agency’s employees.
Flagler Beach Settles With Ex-Flagler Beach Firefighters, Retracting Firing and Paying $80,000 to Each
Ex-Flagler Beach firefighters Jake Bissonnette and Shane Wood wrote resignation letters to replace their firing orders, but they will not be returning to work for the fire department.
Street Fight Escalates in South Bunnell, Drawing 15 Sheriff’s Units and City Police
A fight that began between students at a bus stop then drew in parents and escalated to include some 20 people and more than 100 “spectators” drew a large police response in South Bunnell late Tuesday afternoon into evening, and led to three injuries, though none were serious, police said.
Motorcyclist Richard K. Taylor of Palm Coast Killed in Head-On Collision With Pick-Up Truck on SR11
Palm Coast’s Richard K. Taylor was killed this morning on State Road 11 when DeLand driver E. Gonzalez attempted to pass a car in his pick-up truck and ran head-on into Taylor’s motorcycle.
Escaped Convict Ronald McCoy Caught by West Palm Beach Police
Ronald McCoy, an inmate with a very violent past who was serving two life terms on armed robbery convictions at a prison in Miami-Dade County, remains at large after his escape on Oct. 31.
Two Deputies Save a Deer That May Have Been Hanging From a Fence for Hours
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Agricultural and Ranch Deputy Steve Williams and Sergeant Mike Lutz saved a deer hanging by its hind leg on a 6-foot fence at 26 Winchester Road.
“Would You Like To Die Today?” Woman Tells Friend as She Crashes Jaguar on I-95 Near Palm Coast Parkway
Lorita Glica, 50, of Palm Coast, was jailed on aggravated assault and other charges after allegedly intentionally driving her Jaguar into the trees on I-95 moments after she told a friend traveling wit her, and with whom she was having an argument: “Would you like to die today?”
FHP Warns of Extra Halloween Patrols and Cautions Trick and Treaters on Safety
This weekend, the Florida Highway Patrol will join thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation in enforcing Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Sheriff’s Office, In Echo of 2001 Violation, Keeps Secret the Hospitalization of Murder Suspect at FHF
For two days, a murder suspect was under arrest in Flagler County but not at the jail. The Sheriff’s Office would not disclose his whereabouts–a dungeon-like disappearance that no law allows or protects.
Cyclist Seriously Hurt on Belle Terre, Then 3 Cars Crash in Opposite Direction at Ponce de Leon
Belle Terre Parkway from Rymfire Drive north was shut down after 5:45 this morning after a car struck a cyclist about 75 yards north of the intersection with Ponce de Leon Drive. An unrelated three-car wreck then took place across the road.
Supreme Court Removes Leon County Judge For Running Religious Business Out of Her Chambers
Leon County Judge Judith Hawkins was running a business called Gaza Road Ministries, used a judicial assistant and sold her own books to attorneys who appeared before her.
Flagler Detention Deputy of the Year Twice Reprimanded for Sexual Improprieties With Inmates in Last 2 Years
Deputy Randy Stephen Vickers was disciplined in May for having a relationship with a repeat offender and inmate and two years ago for asking an inmate, jokingly, if she’d like to be sexually assaulted.
From Heroes to Suspects and Back Again: All Charges Dropped For European Village Saviors
The three young Palm Coast residents who stopped an Uzi-yielding assailant at European Village in March spent the next six months fighting bogus charges that they’d provoked a fight at Finn’s bar in Flagler Beach. All charges have been dropped.
Sanford, Ferguson, Tallahassee: When Cops Act Like Vigilantes
When police from Sanford to Tallahassee protect themselves or FSU football players and sit on information that should be disclosed and vigorously pursued, they invite mistrust and charges of a cover-up.
Palm Coast Broods as Ruling Declares Key Step in Red-Light Camera Ticketing Illegal
You may be better off not paying your red-light camera ticket in light of a court decision declaring issuance of those tickets illegal. Palm Coast is studying the ruling as its cameras continue to flash.
Jared Parkey, Flagler Firefighter Shot in Road Rage Incident, Sentenced to 2 Years’ Probation
Jared Parkey was twice shot on U.S. 1 by ex-Flagler Beach cop Nathaniel Juratovac last year. Juratovac is serving a 4-year prison sentence. Parkey had faced a felony charge and prison time before his plea.
Ex-Felon Accused of Bludgeoning Wife to Death in St. Pete Arrested in Palm Coast
A blue Chevy Cavalier that police agencies across the state had been placed on alert for was found in the parking lot of the bowling alley on Old Kings Road in Palm Coast before dawn. The car owner had fled following a murder in St. Petersburg this morning.
“I Know I Should Have Died on US 1”: Jack Howell Survives Another Bike Crash
Teens-in-Flight chief Jack Howell, the retired Marine Colonel, was riding at 60 mph in the annual Frank Celico fund-raising ride Saturday when a tire on his motorcycle blew, sending him scraping against the highway.
24-Year-Old Woman Shot in Road Rage Incident on I-95, Suspects in Mercedes Flee
The incident took place at 3:17 p.m. near mile marker 290, about a mile north of the intersection with Palm Coast Parkway, in the southbound lanes. The woman’s injury are not life-threatening.
Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder in Killing of 72-Year-Old Landlord, Erick Niemi Faces Up to Life in Prison
Erick Niemi, 43, of Palm Coast, killed Leonard Lynn, his 72-year-old landlord in the R-Section, by savagely beating and strangling him in May 2013, because Niemi felt he was being mistreated.
Gunman and Accomplice Sought After Armed Robbery at Outlet Mall’s Jewelry Store on SR16
At 10:20 this morning a masked man authorities are describing as “possibly black” robbed the Zales Jewelry store at 2700 State Road 16, one of the stores at the Premium Outlets mall south of St. Augustine, along I-95.
2 Women Killed, 2 Seriously Hurt in 3-Vehicle Crash Termed “Horrific” on SR100 and CR305
The third wreck involving fatalities in six days was triggered by a vehicle rear-ending another, and causing it to crash head-on into an oncoming car.
Ormond Beach Police Investigating Shooting on Seminole Drive and Seeking Public’s Help
A male subject was shot in the stomach by another male after an argument at 222 Seminole Drive in Ormond Beach. One suspect is in custody.
Diane Upton of Palm Coast Is Killed, Kalyn Upton and Child Seriously Hurt in 2-Vehicle Wreck on SR100 Near Target
Rebecca Lawless, 24, of Palm Coast, ran a red light and slammed into Diane Upton’s car at Landing Boulevard and SR100 in Palm Coast, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Man Dies in Early-Morning Fire
On Westmayer Place in Flagler Beach
The double-wide trailer on Westmayer Place, a dirt road off of A1A at the north end of town, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene. It was the first death in a house fire in Flagler County since an elderly woman died at her home in Palm Coast almost two years ago.
Olvis Harville, Biker Critically Injured in 1 of 2 Biketoberfest Wrecks on US 1 Wednesday, Dies
Olvis Harville, 65, was riding with a friend on U.S. 1 at CR304 when he crashed into his friend and was ejected. He died two days later.
Pit Bull Mix Attacks 76-Year-Old Woman in Her F-Section Backyard and Tries to Drag Her Away
A 76-year-old resident of Forrest Hill Drive in Palm Coast was hospitalized after a neighbor’s large pit bull mix attacked and attempted to drag her back to its own yard Thursday afternoon.
A Community Bids Former Deputy Joe Delarosby Farewell, Mixing Anger With Remembrance
Services for Joseph Delarosby, the sheriff’s deputy edged into retirement 7 weeks before he killed himself on Oct. 7, included a stunning public rebuke of Sheriff Manfre by Delarosby’s father.
Case Closed: Flagler Beach Commission Votes 4-1 to Buy $600,000 “Quint” Fire Truck
There was debating, pleading, occasional shouting and plenty of sniping, but in the end a conclusion foretold months ago was ratified with a 4-1 vote as the Flagler Beach City Commission Thursday night opted to buy a nearly $600,000 fire truck called a “quint.”
Pot Amendment: For Debilitating Diseases or an Open Door to Full Marijuana Legalization?
A briefing on Amendment 2, the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana: supporters say it’ll help the sick, opponents claim it’s flawed and will result in “a joint in every backpack.”