All but one of the nine names on a sheriff’s poster displaying men sought or arrested Thursday for running drugs, guns or both are familiar faces at the Flagler County jail, where most have numerous arrests and convictions. In all, the men have faced a combined 342 charges and 92 convictions between them over the past 35 years.
At least seven have been re-arrested, three of them on state charges of cocaine sale, four of them on federal charges of selling cocaine and illegally possessing firearms, and seven weapons have been seized–two rifles, including an assault-style AR-15, and five pistols–in the culmination of a four-month joint sting operation between the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Bunnell Police Department, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the State Attorney’s Office and other agencies.
Sheriff Rick Staly and State Attorney R.J. Larizza announced the results of the sting and arrests this morning in a press conference at the Sheriff’s Office, where the two were flanked by Bunnell Police Chief Tom Foster and federal law enforcement officials.
Startlingly, every single one of the individuals arrested or sought is black (with the possible exception of Jason White, whose image could not be located and was not provided). Blacks, of course, are not the only ones running drugs or possessing illegal guns in Flagler County.
Staly was asked about the discrepancy, and whether the operation targeted blacks.
“No, absolutely it did not, it targeted violent felons,” Staly said. “Doesn’t matter to us what color they are. They’re all going to get arrested and go to jail, and if you look in my jail, the majority of inmates are white. Absolutely not, we don’t target people, we target criminals, and South Bunnell has been a hot spot for criminal activity for ever.” South Bunnell is predominantly black. “We’re an equal opportunity arrester, we’re going to arrest you if you violate the law. In this particular case it was very coincidental, they just happened to all be African American males, but we didn’t ask them to do a life of crime, either.”
There were a couple of questions at today’s conference regarding more than two pounds of cocaine that washed up on shore on Sept. 23. The package was turned into the Sheriff’s Office by the 68-year-old Palm Coast man who found it. There’s no clue as to the cocaine’s origin, Staly said, though he noted that another package of equal weight washed up since. He surmised that the recent hurricanes may have stirred up the package from wherever they’d been lost, and pushed them to shore. The cocaine is to be destroyed by the Sheriff’s Office.
WNZF’s video of this morning’s press conference is below.
Coyote says
“In all, the men have faced a combined 342 charges and 92 convictions between them over the past 35 years.” ….
“rounding up the usual drug suspects, most of whom would be returned to the streets before day’s end anyway”….
Anyone else find these statement rather disconcerting, to say the least?
Ink Spot says
Staly – ” absolutely not we don’t target blacks our jails are full of white people! We just use black mugshots as the face crime.” Out of sight out of mind. Manfre used to do the same thing, round up some black people put them on the news and call it a day. No one is fooled this is whats called a bait and switch. If they did a straight drug bust 75% of Flagler counties population would get snagged because of all the pill abuse. So labeling it a gun operation allows the slave patrol a way out by cherry picking their would be criminals.
Kathy says
Lock them up and throw away the key. We don’t need these useless men in our community. I moved here to get away from violence and crime. I’d like to retire in peace and quiet and it’s only becoming worse. This was a good start just please rid Flagler County of these criminals.
Truth says
No jobs + middle class affluent area is historically the recipe for drug sale proliferation maybe this will get people to focus on creating jobs and education for this impovershed community
Whatever says
Great job by FCSO. We need more sting operations like this one. Glad to see the new sheriff proactive and cleaning up the streets. As far as this being a black and white issue as the sheriff said we arrest criminals not by color. And all these people were criminals and deserve to be behind bars .
Lacker says
Truth
Why is the community responsible for educating the impoverished? How about parents being responsible for educating their children that they bring into this world. Have a father and mother stay and raise children together and be responsible for them. Poor or not, people need to be responsible for themselves and the children they bring into this world. Teach them consequences and discipline when they are young, and maybe they wont have any contact with law enforcement when they get older!!!!
Why is that not obvious to everyone else????
Palm Coast says
“Blacks, of course, are not the only ones running drugs or possessing illegal guns in Flagler County. ”
Blacks? can we be a little more politically correct in this statement SMH
Tired of it says
The weak judges now need to step up and get these people off our streets for ever. Not just a year in prison for cocaine possession like one of the thugs that just got rearested for the same crime. No please deals just hard time.
Sw says
What I see that I like are the Fed. Charges resulting in some serious time by repeat,rinse, repeat criminals who wont be able to play the cat n mouse game anymore. Bye bye have a nice stay
Sw says
@ ink spot The slave patrol LMAO 342 charges 92 convictions in over 35 years. I am thinking its the dumb ass criminal patrol.
MartyBarrett says
And not even a dent in the gun or drug trade is made. Nice photo-op though
Not4nthn says
Poor bunnell Chief didn’t have an answer .. he’s a nice guy but he doesn’t not have a handle of the discrepancies and lack of in touch tact with the community he supervises .. a fault of lack of technology tools and manpower to do the job which also includes acknowledging he has a diversity issue because southern Bunnell is predominantly minorities and lower income . But at least the chief Is honest in his answer so I can respect that. This video was every because the second guy who was a fed got up to speak and was moved to the back by staly … so was everyone else it should have been just a staly video because he of course can’t have anyone’s saying more talking points comments than him. Using the false narrative about two drive by shootings to spook people when the actual crimes didn’t have anything to do with this operation.where are the programs for the youth and community and lesser fortunate ? Where’s the outreach ? The joint plan with all communities regardless of color or creed in this county to fight this issue ..
mike says
Toob bad they cant lock up the clown’s that voted to put up a Palm coast sign over the I 95 overpass and wasting tax payers money
Anonymous says
Let these fifth generation immigrants be deported. Where is Trump when you need him?