When a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy arrived at Michael Jason Jozefek’s property at 12 Rippling Brook Drive in Palm Coast Wednesday evening, he heard two people arguing and what sounded like one striking the other. Someone had called 911 about an ongoing incident at the address, where the caller said someone was screaming, and a white man holding a child was hitting a woman.
The man the deputy saw was Jozefek, 37, whom he immediately separated from Courtney Quinn, 29, and “safely secure,” which usually means handcuffing and detention in a patrol car.
Quinn told the deputy that she’d been in an argument with Jozefek, her ex-boyfriend and father of her child. They had been together for five years. She’d gone to Jozefek’s house to drop off her child when the pair started arguing about who she was hanging out with, and he told her to get her “nigger ass” out of his house, according to his arrest report. (Both are white.)
While Quinn was leaving through the garage, she said Jozefek followed her as he held their son in his arms and told her he should kick her in the stomach, “which he subsequently did with his left foot while the child was still in his arms.” Quinn said the kick felled her. As she tried to get up while attempting to call 911 on her cell phone, she claims Jozefek grabbed the phone and threw it on the ground, breaking it, disabling her ability to call cops, she said. She then got in her car to drive off, but then Jozefek “reached into her open driver’s side window and grabbed her neck with his left hand, causing her to have trouble breathing for a few seconds.” When she was able to get his arm away, “he smacked her with an open hand across her face.”
It was then that a deputy arrived at the scene. The deputy noted the red marks around Quinn’s neck and numerous scratches on her legs, which she said were caused when she fell after being kicked in the stomach. One neighbor said she witnessed a man kicking and punching a woman while holding a child in his arms, and hearing a woman scream, “stop hitting me” and “you are hurting me.” Another neighbor also corroborated the claim of Jozefek kicking Quinn and causing her to fall, and later punching her.
Jozefek had a felony battery conviction on his record, a fact that became material with what happened next: another deputy had secured a search warrant for the house, and during the search located a .22 caliber handgun (with one round in the chamber and an empty magazine). The gun was under the nightstand on the right side of Jozefek’s bed, according to his arrest report. The search also produced various illegal drugs. Jozefek had a previous conviction, in 2004, on a third-degree drug felony charge. He has been arrested numerous times since. (Quinn has had several arrests since 2008, when adjudication was withheld on a disorderly conduct charge, a battery charge was dropped in 2012, and she pleaded no contest to a battery charge last year, then violated probation earlier this year.)
Jozefek was jailed on eight charges Wednesday, seven of them third and second degree felonies, including three drug charges, two weapons charges, two battery charges and tampering with a witness. Bond was set at $29,000. Jozefek remained in jail Thursday. His felony arraignment before Circuit Judge Matthew Foxman is scheduled for July 12.
The Geode says
Not in this particular case, but, I hate the practice of handcuffing and detaining a person absent of a crime or arrest. “Safely secure” is pure bullshit! They’ve already made up their mind WHO they are going to arrest and looking for an excuse to leave the cuffs on….
Tribal Mentality says
Tribal mentality strikes again !!!!!
Geezer says
When I was young, I had a troll doll hanging off
my rear-view mirror. I always wondered what became of it.
Today I know.
dave says
And in the corner is the “R” Section once again.
pointing fingers says
Who is that with the hair sticking up? Chris Kattan “Night at the Roxbury” This guy has slipped through the cracks a million times. Nothing is this town surprises me anymore.
The Geode says
So do I. You married it…
Dave says
Lets take a wager on how many months they get in jail .
Kendall says
LMAO @ Geezer.
anonymous says
I never once had problems in my part of r section in 3 years. I guess it’s all in what particular area. All of the incidents coming off of Ricker backer. Not anywhere near me.
Gman says
There is no such term called “safely secure” unknown where the reporter got that term. Rather when law enforcement arrives on a scene of a active physical disturbance and they are by themselves they will usually secure the person that appears the aggressor for “officer safety” until such time that the can safely determine the circumstances.
Anonymous says
And this is public news lmfao Flagler live and the palm coast observer will post anything that they know retirees and snow birds will be interested in reading this community is by far safer than most and yet they feel the need to make everyone aware of every minor incident its just sad they need to be more concerned with all the tax dollars being blow on unimportant things like the magnolia trees planted on belle terre that in another 8 years are going to drop so many leaves that a street sweeper will need to come through and clean them off road ways there is so much unnecessary money spent ever year on this swamp everyone calls palm coast can’t wait till another bad hurricane hits Florida and drives these retired snow birds back up north
Brian says
Where are these people coming from?
Palm coast just keeps getting worse!
It used to be a great place to live.Now its just crazy!
Veteran says
Another Palm Coast resident you should bring home to mama.
Geezer says
Geode, just call me “dad.”
anonymous says
This city of palm coast has changed for the worse and not the better. I think this city needs to rid all corupt city, state and fed employees or nothing is going to change.
anonymous says
Everyone is quick to blame the citizens of palm coast for crimes and what not. I’m not condoning this at all but the big picture is look at the way this city is run and by whom and the nice pay check they are all receiving. Meanwhile, citizens all over Flagler County are suffering from no food, shelter, drug addicts with no help available, or repeat offenders as that is all some people know how to survive. Whar about a program for rehabilitation of ppl that need to learn a trade in order to become a productive citizen of Flagler. Instead, Jim Landon who sits on his ass and dictates everything to secretary, Kendra. He’s more worried about a golf course. Please!
Anonymous says
What is happening in this city? The crime is crazy. This is going to be like little Detroit before much longer. It’s not safe to leave your house anymore around here.