Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey today issued a statement defending the arrest of a Flagler County Sheriff’s detective by one of his officers last week on a charge of fleeing and eluding. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge just five days later, suggesting there was no defensible case for the arrest, which may have raised questions about the justification for the police officer’s actions.
Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma was arrested on U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach the morning of Dec. 4. He’d been going 88 in a 55 mph zone, on his way to work in Bunnell. (He lives on Lucky Drive in Ormond Beach.) The charge was dropped on Dec. 8, an extremely fast turn-around. He still faces a speeding ticket and an internal affairs investigation, which may lead to penalties from his agency.
The decision to drop the charge “reflects prosecutorial discretion and does not indicate wrongdoing by our officer or any deficiency in how the traffic stop was handled,” Godfrey said in the statement.
“Our Sergeant acted in good faith and based his decisions on the totality of the circumstances observed at the time,” he said. “Officers operate under the legal standard of probable cause, which is distinct from the prosecutorial standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges is a judgment about what can be proven in court. It is not a finding that the officer acted improperly or lacked legal justification.”
Godfrey said based on the arrest report, the facts stated by his officer, Sgt. Caleb Braun, supported the arrest. The arrest report describes Coma as oblivious to the sergeant’s emergency lights even as other vehicles were yielding. “It was apparent the vehicle was actively attempting to flee,” the report states. The emergency lights were deactivated and the sergeant signaled to an officer ahead to deploy stop sticks.
There, Coma drove around the deployed stop sticks and stopped. By then there was no cop car behind him. Coma later explained to sheriff’s officials that he thought Ormond Beach police were involved in a pursuit, and he was pulling over to assist. He was then arrested, though other Ormond police officers concurred that Coma appeared bewildered, and found his behavior at the scene consistent with that of a law enforcement officer thinking he was assisting another agency.
“We stand firmly behind our Sergeant,” the chief said in his statement. “His actions were consistent with OBPD training and expectations, and the information available to him at the time fully supported the decisions he made. We value our partnerships with surrounding agencies and remain committed to constructive collaboration in service to the communities we all protect.”
Coma had been suspended without pay between his arrest and the dropped charge. He was reinstated Monday to a desk job pending the result of the internal affairs investigation. The Sheriff’s Office was contacted regarding Godfrey’s statement, and was reviewing it before possibly responding.
Jim says
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey doesn’t need to defend his sergeant to me or anyone else. He did his job properly and the charges were proper as well. The fact that the State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge just five days later is not a reflection on either his department or the sergeant. It is a strong reflection on the State Attorney’s Office. Confidence in our judicial institutions is waning almost daily and this doesn’t do anything to change that.
I was on the interstate yesterday and a blacked out Charger with a floodlight on the driver’s side exterior was coming up the passing lane at a “high rate of speed” to put it mildly. I watched this Charger run right up the rear end of a car which had the audacity to be doing only 80 or so in the passing lane. The Charger pushed the car until it moved over for him. I watched that repeat for two more cars after that. Oh, by the way, the Charger has Florida State government plates. So, I’m fairly sure it was a police vehicle. Not the first (nor the last) time I’ll see that but my first thought was about the Flagler cop who was pretty much doing the same (speed). My point? Seems the police around here feel pretty confident they can run at high speeds without any consequences. (Sure, I could have gotten the plate number and reported it. Anyone think there would be any consequences????).
So to the Ormond Beach Police Department and to all police officers who do actually follow the law as well as enforce it, the public does watch and we do see what you do. I can say I always feel a little more confident in our police when I see them doing “right” and a little less so when they go 80+mph with impunity. Right now, I guess I’m a little less confident in Flagler Sheriff’s office and the State police as well as State Attorney’s Office since none of them seem too concerned with following the law nor how the public perceives their actions.
Skibum says
Well, aside from the prosecutor’s decision to drop the more serious criminal charge against the FCSO dumb shit detective, it is still a significant and very public embarrassment that Sheriff Staly and his agency is going to have to deal with. And they know full well that whatever decision is made, this incident has the public’s attention and they better be able to let the public know how seriously they take criminal matters involving their law enforcement officers, and especially how the sheriff will not tolerate misbehavior and law violations.
We will see how, or if, the sheriff hold his deputies accountable once the internal investigation is completed. I know they do a lot of things differently here in FL, that is for sure! But during my time in law enforcement working in both CA and WA states, there were certainly times when I needed to get somewhere quick and I wasn’t authorized to use lights and siren, and the standard thing used by LEOs in most agencies was to put on the flashing amber to the rear to let citizens as well as other agencies know that I was speeding, hurrying for a good reason… which NEVER included merely driving to work as that detective was doing!
If there were legitimate circumstances for him driving nearly 90 mph in his detective car, he had better be utilizing some equipment in his agency vehicle to let other law enforcement agencies know he is a cop and going somewhere in a hurry, or if his vehicle has no emergency lights or whatever, he better slow the hell down to prevent exactly the type of regrettable incident he got caught up in to begin with… and as I said, just driving to work like a jackass because he can doesn’t justify doing so.
Hopefully this will be a lesson he will not ever repeat.
HayRide says
Heck the are above the law in Flager and Palm Coadt they don’t obey any traffic rules at all, like everyone one here that also don’t use blinkers, and travel at high rates of speed
Sunny says
Flagler Sheriff doesn’t care one bit! He has an endless budget which isnt ever questioned. This county needs an overhaul so past due! Property appraiser buys up property for decades knowing upcoming projects makes millions. County Adm hires family friends at 6 figures no with no qualifications. Corruption everywhere!
jim says
hey Pierre u r an F’n azzhole i cant believe you would publish an LEO’s home address as if it isnt hard enough doing the job today than worrying about some psycho knocking on ur door … good job Moron n u have the audacity to beg for money… keep begging
Pierre Tristam says
Since you brought it up, and named me personally behind your cowardly mask, I’ll address you openly, “Jim.” First off, his address isn’t listed. His street, yes. There’s a difference, though it may not be apparent to dimwits. Funny name too, given the circumstances. Second, do you, fucking nitwit, think LEO are the only creatures threatened on this earth? Do you really think my home, which doesn’t benefit from that exemption, and therefore my family, my children, my life, haven’t been threatened routinely for the site I edit and the articles I write, by the likes of you (see above)? Do you think I have the arsenals and the cop-car shine I can park in my driveway as deterrent? You’re damn right we’ll keep begging. Fucking ADt security costs alone at this house run us $1,000 a year. Want to help? Didn’t think so. You know where you can stick your audacity. Like the sun, your wits don’t shine there.
CPFL says
Dang, never thought the day would come that I agree with Pierre…and here it is.
Skibum says
Hey “jim”, long time retired LEO here, and it only took me a nano second to comprehend that the FCSO detective’s home address was never released, only the street he lives on in Ormond. I’m quite sure there are a whole lot of people who probably live on that street, no?
Not to worry, though. I’ve already made my donation to FlaglerLive this year, like I do every year. I’ll even dig into my pocket and make another one for you! Carry on, dude!
Big Homie says
This is genuinely crazy I guess these police can do ANYTHING THEY WANT!!! No court dates no lawyer fees just charges dropped I think I’d rather invest in this case and get my own lawyer to see how come my cases took several months to get rid of maybe because I’m not a cop or a let alone a dirty one. This is Flagler finest!!!!!!
joe says
flagger is corrupt as can be .
Corruption says
I am shocked that this charge was not moved to another state attorney’s office. The very fact that Sheriff Staly didnt request that shows how flawed this system is. This is corruption!!
DP says
I love all these comments, accusations, & Innuendos, of Corruption with the FC sheriff, and SA office. People don’t take the time to read articles on other platforms, on how it was determined not to prosecute, or move forward with the case on the state’s side. I’m not condoning, or blaming the deputys actions, or disagreeing with the state’s decision. Based on what has been written in this platform, and others. All of which was obtained from all the agencies reports, concluded no prosecution. Ormond’s police chief supported his officers actions, and concluded nothing done wrong on thier behalf. Flaglers sheriff also concluded laws were followed, and now has had an IA investigation started. Will he receive Disciplinary action from the IAI? We shall wait and see. In closing its called good lawyers “Defendant’s “, and the state sitting down and reviewing all the evidence. Its called prosecutional discretion. I see nothing more into that. Could it be different for citizens???? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on thier lawyer. I’ve seen on the news many times, even as recent with the Osceola county sheriff, Obviously no favoritism in that case. Today’s society, as with the past, people like to jump to conclusions, before all the facts are presented. But your entitled to your own opinion, right or wrong, or indifferent.
Joey says
Who paid for his lawyer – the taxpayers !!!!
HayRide says
I never have or give reason to be pulled over but if I ever do, this defence better work for me too
Shark says
I guess the corrupt staly will find a way to get the speeding charge dropped too !!!
Billy B says
Voter Records in Florida will give you the address of any registered voter in Florida – He is a registered voter and lives at 65 Lucky Drive, Ormond Beach, Florida.
jessica jones says
This is straight up BULLISH the State Attorney needs to be ashamed of himself. People have been arrested for less things than this and are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I live in Flagler it’s always been a good ole County. They think they’re above the Law , for instance the paramedic who was caught on video taking advantage of an unconscious person was charged with a lesser charge, my son was accused and found to be innocent never going to court for someone who lied on him and still to this day he’s treated like a criminal can’t be around a gun or ammunition and he’s not even a convicted felon but in this Good Ole Boy County of Flagler he’s treated like one