The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Flagler Palm Coast High School students this week following separate investigations, two for drug-related charges and a third for threatening another student with a knife.
On Thursday morning, deputies arrested D.J., 17, of Palm Coast, after school staff learned the student was in possession of three THC vaping devices. After searching D.J., school staff also located a bottle of fake urine in his possession. While investigating the incident, deputies conducted a field test on the THC vaping devices, which resulted in a presumptive positive for THC.
D.J., who was already on probation for possession of marijuana under 20 grams, is facing multiple felony charges, including violation of probation and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Deputies also arrested O.V., 17, of Palm Coast, on Thursday afternoon after school staff learned that the student was selling THC vaping devices to students on campus. Deputiesconducted a search of the student’s vehicle, where they located 26 THC vaping devices.
O.V. is facing felony charges for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver.
On Friday morning, deputies arrested M.M., 16, of Palm Coast, following an investigation into a verbal altercation between her and another student, during which she threatened the other student with a knife disguised as a lipstick container. Along with the knife, school staff also located pepper spray in her possession.
M.M. is facing aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
The sheriff’s release stated that the student was also charged with possession of a destructive device on school property. The charge is debatable and unlikely to survive review by the State Attorney’s Office. A knife is defined as a weapon under Florida law. A destructive device is defined as “any bomb, grenade, mine, rocket, missile, pipebomb, or similar device containing an explosive, incendiary, or poison gas.” The law distinguishes between tear gas guns or a “chemical weapon or device” and such things as pepper spray carried “solely for purposes of lawful self-defense.”
“We’ve unfortunately had to make three arrests at FPC in the last two days because children fail to understand the severity of their actions,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Whether it’s threatening someone, getting caught with drugs, or anything in between, I implore parents to be the Sheriff in their home and make sure that their kids know the consequences of committing crimes, especially on school grounds. If you won’t teach your kids life lessons and know what they are doing, we will. We have zero tolerance for drugs and weapons on our school campuses.”
“Thanks to other students speaking up, and the quick and caring response of our staff, we were able to work with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to help keep our students and our campus safe. These actions will never be tolerated at Flagler Schools. Threats to our students carry immediate consequences and are addressed in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office. We urge families to take these matters seriously and report anything suspicious. Remember, if you see something, say something,” said Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore.
All three students were transported to the Flagler County Inmate Detention Facility for processing and later released to their parents.
JimboXYZ says
Every HS has had a relative “dealer”. Release their photos, they’re going to be adult enough soon for that exposure as they started their crime career as juveniles. The bigger issue is, which adults, which local vape shops are supplying these juveniles with that inventory. 17 year olds don’t have the financial resources to invest in that level of an inventory working a fast food job after school ? Back in the 1970’s it was pot, everyone knew which families & kids were the dealers or just heavily involved for juvenile abuse. I just recall the teachers even outing many of those kids as a burnout on drugs & cigarettes for teen nicotine abuse. Most of them had poor scholastic credentials, others were the pillars of societies children that seemed untouchable. That much may/may not have changed since my HS era ? The sad part is, one never knows where the money trail will lead to find the operation. The bigger issue is there are adults involved & their children are the drug mules. There’s no doubt about connecting those dots. Controlled substances with measures in place for the retail sale, somehow getting into the hands of juveniles for distribution involves adults that get that inventory by any means, legal & illegal ?
CPFL says
Jimbo you need to educate yourself on the internet and how it is used to buy drugs online. If you dig not very deep there are many people that sell and ship the products anywhere. Yes, they ship this stuff through UPS and FEDEX. Cost for this stuff is the high dollar amount you are thinking; dispensaries get products that are regulated…the stuff these kids is not regulated so much cheaper to get, probably 3rd of the cost. Highly doubt any of this is coming from local dispensaries, most likely coming from California and north of there. Not sure how the exchange of funds is done, but pretty easy to make a long unrecognizable money trail when bouncing money all over the place and use of crypto.
Richard Fay says
JimboXYZ seems very quick to convict these young people. I do not know enough to pass judgement but clearly we need to rethink our approach to crime, conviction and punishments given what is taking place in the United States White House. Examples: The largest internet site to sell illicit products worldwide was the “Silk Road” marketplace. Ross William Ulbricht (aka Dread Pirate Roberts) was arrested and found guilty of crimes that could be directly attributed to his behavior (i.e. drug trafficking, computer hacking, and money laundering). His website resulted in the deaths of people around the world and allegations that he had hired a hitman to kill one of his co-conspirators. Unfortunately, the life term imposed upon this person was pardoned by the presiding president of the United States. He has a penchant for pardoning drug dealers, white collar criminals, and corrupt (mostly convicted) political and MAGA/Republican functionaries (search former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, Rep. Henry Cuellar, TX, Tina Peters, a former Colorado elections administrator -convicted on Colorado State charges, a pardon he is no position to grant-, the list goes on – see Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_in_the_second_Trump_presidency etc.). Closer to home: Lest we forget our current Republican candidate for Governor, Byron Donalds, Rep. FL 80th District. I hope the judiciary affords the same compassion displayed in Representative Donalds’ case, just 18 years ago “In 1997, Donalds was charged with marijuana possession, but the charges were dropped as part of a pre-trial diversion program, and he was fined $150 (equivalent to $290 in 2024). In 2000, he pleaded no contest to a felony theft charge for allegedly attempting to defraud a bank (by depositing a bad check), but his record was later sealed and expunged. According to an attorney consulted by the fact-checking site PolitiFact, ‘Donalds would not have been able to get his record expunged if the state considered him a convicted felon’.” Hopefully we will take a closer look at the lives of these young people and understand the environmental forces, challenges and changes that can be brought to bear upon their circumstances to bring about a positive outcome.