The alleged victim at the center of an incident that led to the arrest of a Flagler County Sheriff’s detention deputy on New Year’s night has all but recanted and asked the court to drop the charges and lift a no-contact order.
On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office issued a release about the arrest in Daytona Beach of Sara Radford, a detention deputy, on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. Today, Jose Marine, wrote the court “to formally state I don’t wish to pursue charges.”
He wrote Volusia County Court Judge David Cromartie that on Jan. 1, “circumstances arose that led to law enforcement involvement. Due to the overall confusion of the situation I’m unable to recall events that occurred. At no point was there any physical injury or intentional harm caused.”
A misdemeanor battery charge is punishable by a maximum of a year in jail, though it rarely leads to jail time, and for first-time offenders, it typically results in some probation. Absent unusual circumstances, prosecutors don’t generally pursue a battery charge when the alleged victim doesn’t want to pursue it, or has recanted.
“Sara Radford is not a violent person,” Marine wrote. “She poses no threat to me or others. I told officers on scene I was drunk and [confused]. I didn’t want to pursue charges and no legal action is needed.”
Radford was suspended without pay on Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office said, pending the outcome of the criminal case. She was the agency’s 2023 Detention Deputy of the Year. Radford joined the agency in August 2011.
The State Attorney’s Office had not filed an information ratifying the charge, and has not yet filed a document dismissing the charge. Either way, Radford is likely to face an internal inquiry and possible penalties for policy violations. She is the second member of the Sheriff’s Office to face arrest in less than a month. Ardit Coma, a detective, was arrested on a fleeing and eluding charge in Ormond Beach in early December. The charge was quickly dropped. Coma was disciplined for speeding in an agency-issued vehicle.
Shark says
Just another SOVEREIGN CITIZEN like Deputies – Ardit Coma – Bryan and Kailen Jackson – Finn and Crego .
JimboXYZ says
This isn’t real in 2026, never has been acceptable behavior ? Get these 2 individuals the help they desperately need for their dysfunctional relationship with one another. Alcohol abuser for one of them (relatively the victim in this bad movie plot), the other arrested for assault. If the police are taking you to jail, there had to have been sufficient grounds to make that arrest. There’s a difference between detaining & arresting. As I understand FL law, police can hold anyone before arresting them for up to 72 hours with a 48 hour rule to appear in front of a judge, before any formal charge(s), that’s if there was that much confusion that she wasn’t arrested on the premises and taken to Volusia County jail facility as the situation unfolded the way it did ? Sweeping it under the rug, ignoring the warning signs is just the first step for more of the same social misbehavior. Stop enabling these type of crisis, the rest of us, we’re tired of it.
Coalition says
Anyone can make a mistake. That doesn’t define a person, nor does it erase the good they’ve done.
Deputy Radford is a beautiful person inside and out, and she does not deserve public humiliation. Unfortunately, with the job title comes scrutiny, and that is a reality of serving in law enforcement. I can assure you she will hold her head high, learn from this, and push forward with strength and dignity.
Every one of us has dealt with personal issues involving friends, family, or relationships. The difference is that most people are fortunate enough that no one cared who they were or what position they held, and their worst moment was not put under a microscope. What is truly sad is that she did not receive this level of attention when she saved a life off duty by performing CPR on someone who was overdosing, immediately recognizing him from her work at the jail and taking action without hesitation.
It often seems that only negative moments are amplified, while acts of courage, compassion, and professionalism go unnoticed. If Flagler County loses Deputy Radford because of this, it will not be the end of her service. It will simply be another agency’s gain.
Grace, accountability, and perspective matter. We are all human.
Concerned Citizen says
When will we start holding Staly himself accountable?
Leadership starts at the top. And this agency has a severe lack of leadership.
Gail says
The leadership for our sheriff’s department has never been better. Sheriff Staly has earned the respect most of us have for him and I respect our deputies. This deputy doesn’t deserve to have her reputation destroyed before all the facts come out.
Social media justice, not a good thing.
hjc says
Go Figure and are tax money pays for this corruption. What ever happened with the father and daughter who shot the neighbors son? Coma,s miraculous charges being dropped. And now this.
TR says
The charges were asked to be dropped by the victim. So how is that corruption from the department? The victim admitted to being drunk and said that he does not wish to pursue the charges. He also said that Sara Radford is not a threat to him or anyone else.
JOE says
why are most of rick staly deputies are drunks and let go?
TR says
This deputy wasn’t the one that was drunk.
L Foot says
Generalizing an entire agency because of a couple of incidents isn’t just inaccurate — it’s lazy. And I can tell you, as the parent of a deputy who takes his oath seriously, your blanket statement also ignores the reality that the vast majority of deputies serve with professionalism and integrity every single day. And no, this isn’t ‘mom bias’ — the facts hold up whether my kid wears the badge or not.
Concerned Citizen says
I am dual retired. From a career in the Airforce (Law Enforcement) Then another career in Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue as a civilian. This agency has had countless issues with staff over the years.And all that is done is mediocre discipline at the least.
All of my jobs required an oath. That oath held myself and my comrades to higher standards.I hold all of these people to higher standards because of that. When you are in our line of work you don’t get to make poor choices. When you do it violates the trust the public put in us.
In all my years of service we relied on training and discipline. Discipline is what gives you structure to do your job safely. This agency has a severe lack of it. I hold the Sheriff just as responsible. A lack of discipline can become a culture in a department. When one Deputy sees another go unpunished that enables them to make their poor choice. Notice I refuse to use the word mistake. This grand standing Sheriff has a history of sweeping things under the rug. At some point that will come back to haunt him. And his leadership team.
A harder stance on discipline should always be taken in positions of trust.
Endless dark money says
Murikkka is a fascist police state. They will retaliate! Police have unions
Been there says
As someone whos been on both sides. Deputy Radford is a wonderful human being. In and out of work. She should not be bashed by this.
I also do not support Rick in anyway. He lets his deputy’s get away with alot.