The following incident and arrest information was compiled using official documents, reports and affidavits obtained from government and law enforcement agencies. This feature is not inclusive. It is a sampling of reported incidents in the Flagler County area. Note: The U.S. legal system provides the presumption of innocence to those charged with a crime until guilt is proven in a court of law.
Yet Another Credit Card Swipe at a Gas Station
On Sept. 1 at 8 p.m., a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Blulow Woods Campground at 3345 Old Kings Road, lot 451, in response to a case of alleged fraud. The victim, Felicia Allen, said an unknown person had fraudulently obtained her credit card information and has made several purchases. She said her RBC bank card was rejected on Aug. 24 and that the suspects must have obtained her card information when she was at a Shell gas station at 700 South A1A in Flagler Beach between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. RCB informed her that the suspects must have used a fraudulent magnetic strip placed onto another card–meaning a skimmer device, a common recurrence at Flagler County gas stations these days.
Allen stated that the suspects made a $144.34 purchase on Aug. 24 at 8:06 pm a 7/11 with a zip code of 34270. The suspects then went to Walmart Store#3617 on Aug. 24 at 8:27 p.m. and made a $158.48 purchase. The suspects then attempted another purchase for amount of $150.00, but the bank observed the fraudulent charges and stopped that transaction from going through. The sheriff’s office passed the information of the possible skimmer device being inside of the Shell’s card swipe machine to the Flagler Beach Police Department.
Car Break-In at Brunswick Lane
A car break-in was reported on Sept. 2 at 3:45 a.m. at 35A Brunswick Lane in Palm Coast. The car alarm had gone off in the resident’s driveway. The resident noticed that the passenger side of her 2005 Hinda Accord was open, so were the glove box and center console, though nothing was reported taken from the car. The Honda had been left unlocked. None of the other vehicles in the driveway were broken into.
Burglary on Bunker Hill
A burglary was reported on Sept. 1 at 46 Bunker Hill Lane in Palm Coast. The resident there said sometime between 8:50 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., one or more unknown persons broke into his residence and stole several pieces of jewelry. The screen porch door was open, though no signs of forced entry were detected. It is unknown if the sliding doors were unlocked. A jewelry box on top of a dresser was emptied and thrown on the floor. The jewelry chest and other dresser drawers were open and unknown jewelry was taken. A dusting for latent prints was unsuccessful. The residence is unfenced and there is a preserve behind the residence. There is also a vacant home at 44 Bunker Hill that was previously burglarized about two months ago. No leads or suspects at this time.
Traffic Stop Yields DUI and Marijuana
On Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m., Paul Marsi of Pheasant Drive in Palm Coast was stopped after speeding 65 in a 45 on Belle Terre Parkway near Pritchard Drive, going north. The deputy making the stop smelled alcohol from Marsi’s breath. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, according to the sheriff’s report. Jenna Richter, a front-seat passenger, was holding a black object out of the passenger side window in her right hand. A back-up deputy who had arrived on the scene said he thought it was a firearm or a weapon. Richter allegedly attempted to conceal the object, but the deputy took possession of what looked like a bowl and a small red baggie containing what the deputy identified as marijuana. There was also a small baggie containing a partial pill, later identified as 2 mg Xanax through a Drug Bible). Richter said she did not have a prescription for Xanax nor had she ever had a prescription for Xanax. Jenna was placed under arrest and seated in the rear of a patrol vehicle.
Marsi told a deputy that he had approximately four to five beers. He was asked to exit the vehicle and agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises, which he mostly failed. He was placed under arrest for DUI and taken to the Flagler County jail. An inventory search of the vehicle revealed a brown purse in the front passenger seat, containing two small baggies of a green leafy substance. Jenna stated that none of the narcotics located, (even the ones in her hand), were hers and that Paul had thrown them at her when he was being pulled over. She was taken to the jail. Later, a urine test revealed that Marsi’s blood-alcohol content .156 and a .150.
Boat Engine Stolen
A boat engine worth $1,100 was reported stolen on Aug. 31 off of a Gheenee boat belonging to Dillon Furlow while it was parked at 37 Louisburg Lane in Palm Coast. The engine was a navy blue 6HP outboard style with black hydro fold blades.
Burglary on Eric Drive
At 8:15 the morning of Aug. 31, an individual reported that sometime overnight his tools were stolen from a job site of a house under construction at 23 Eric Drive in Palm Coast. The equipment was locked in the garage at the end of the day’s work, but was gone when workers reported the next morning. The list of equipment stolen: 36” flat top pull type yellow water saw (valued at $350); 36” round fan with wheels, orange in color ($100); 12” small silver fan with stand ($30); 100’ orange electrical cord ($75.00), 50’ electrical cord ($45.00); 25’ electrical cord, 2-way box, black, ($25.0O), as well as several other, somewhat less valuable items. The front bathroom window, which had been locked, was found opened.
DUI Arrests
In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people were killed in automobile crashes involving a drunk driver (someone with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Soon, a varying list of traffic and law enforcement agencies will begin releasing the DUI data they compiled in 2009. Whether drunk driving’s annual death toll rose or fell last year, the number isn’t likely to be the only acceptable one…zero. These reportedly impaired drivers were also found driving on Flagler’s streets this week and were arrested.
- Joseph T. Lashaunna, 25, Palm Coast, Sept. 4.
- Victor Krivoshy, 47, Palm Coast, Sept. 5
The previous crime report is available here.
Phil Chanfrau says
In foreign countries with access to great public transportation like Germany, or where it is common to walk to a neighborhood Pub, like Ireland, the DUI rate is significantly lower than it is in the good old USA. One of the many benefits of public transportation or walking. Who would have thought?
JR says
Palm Coast can’t claim the only pot story this week. One of Sen. Barbara Boxer’s aides was caught trying to carry marijuana into the senate office building. I wonder what the look on security’s face was than. Is this yours?