Andrew Mintz, the 34-year-old Palm Coast man at the origin of a three-vehicle crash near a crowd of officials and others by the Flagler Beach pier on April 1, has been charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding police while causing injuries or property damage, a second-degree felony with a penalty of up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
New details in the case reveal that head-on crashes were nearly averted several times further north minutes before the crash as Mintz was speeding recklessly on A1A. (See: “Head-On Crash at Flagler Beach Pier Narrowly Misses Mayor, Her Child, Former Mayor and Commissioner.”)
Mintz was airlifted by Flagler County FireFlight, the emergency helicopter, from near the scene of the crash, to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach. He has not been arrested. The charges were filed by the Flagler Beach Police Department. The State Attorney’s Office has not filed an information–meaning that it hasn’t filed its own formal charge or charges.
His Daytona Beach Attorney, Aaron Delgado, has already filed several motions in the case, including a motion to dismiss, while Mintz himself signed a waiver of his right to be present at pre-trial hearings. Mintz did not return a call to his cell phone. Delgado said he could not comment on the case.
According to police and 911 notes at the time, Mintz had been speeding south on State Road A1A (or North Oceanshore Boulevard) from the Hammock, where he was first spotted by law enforcement driving on the wrong side of the road, before he crashed head-on with a pick-up truck at A1A and State Road 100 in front of the pier, causing damage to a third car. None of the occupants of the other vehicles were injured. A city commissioner, the mayor, a former mayor and the city’s parks director were within a few feet of the crash scene.
The Flagler Beach Police Department’s charging affidavit and 911 notes provide details of the crash that until now had not been disclosed.
“Spotted vehicle traveling southbound in northbound lane at an extremely high rate of speed,” a deputy reported to the 911 center around 9:35 the morning of April 1. “I was sitting stationary facing northbound. As soon as I saw the vehicle, I engaged my emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but by the time I rounded the corner, the vehicle was gone. Emergency lights and sirens were shut down shortly thereafter. Flagler Beach observed the male enter their city.”
The Flagler Beach police officer reported in his charging affidavit that he heard the deputy’s description of a sedan driving “in a reckless manner southbound on A1A from Camino del Mar” at 9:35 a.m., “passing multiple vehicles on the double yellow line and nearly striking several cars head on.” The police officer had been traveling north near North 18th Street when hearing the deputy’s advisory. The officer relocated to A1A and saw Mintz’s Honda speeding south. The officer estimated Mintz’s speed at 90 mph in a 45.
The officer turned on lights and sirens. “The Honda willfully refused to stop for me,” the officer reported. “Instead it fled southbound, continuing to pass vehicles on the double-yellow and nearly causing multiple additional head on collisions. I followed the vehicle with lights and siren activated for approximately 30 seconds, before terminating the pursuit and deactivating my lights and siren pursuant to agency policy.”
Some 20 seconds later, another Flagler Beach police officer reported that Mintz passed him at North 9th, still driving recklessly toward the pier. Ten seconds later, the officer noted on the radio that a head-on crash had occurred.
“In the process of recklessly fleeing from law enforcement with wanton disregard for the safety of pedestrians in a busy downtown area, [Mintz] caused a significant amount of damage to the [two] vehicles he struck, as well as an FDOT sign he destroyed. Both victims’ vehicles were rendered inoperable and the sign will need to be replaced.” (FDOT is the Florida Department of Transportation.)
The officer did not interview Mintz nor arrest him “due to the severity” of his injuries, according to the charging affidavit. The Florida Highway Patrol conducted the crash investigation.
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said that since FHP handled the crash investigation, Flagler Beach did not have an update on Mintz’s condition or whereabouts. An FHP official was still gathering additional information on FlaglerLive’s request before the article initially appeared.
“Based on all reported accounts, this individual showed total disregard to a estimated 30-50 peoples’ lives that day between Hammock and Flagler Beach,” Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley said today. Cooley was among the officials, including Mayor Suzie Johnston, his companion, and former Mayor Linda Provencher, a few feet away from the crash when it occurred. Johnston was also with her daughter. “I find the fact that he (with his legal team) has already filed a motion to dismiss charges is appalling. This lack of accountability is a continued display of zero regard for anyone but himself. He should be cooperating and working proactively to fix all the damage he has done to his numerous victims.”
Court papers may give at least some indication of Mintz’s whereabouts: five days days before the crash, Mintz was the subject of a civil complaint filed in circuit court. The complaint indicates that Mintz took possession of a dwelling at 90 Florida Park Drive in Palm Coast a year ago, but was told on March 24 to vacate the premises–and allegedly did not do so.
On March 30–two days before the crash–Mintz filed his answer to the complaint, disputing it. The answer was filed from an address Mintz listed as 282 Keeler Woods Drive in Marietta, Ga. The document was not entered into the court docket until the afternoon of April 4. The cause for the disparity between when Mintz signed it and when it was entered into the court file is not clear.
Disclosure: Aaron Delgado is a member of the FlaglerLive Board of Directors. Other than the request for a comment, which he declined, Delgado was neither consulted nor was aware of the article before its publication.
Atwp says
Will they arrest him? Just asking.
Michael Van Buren says
Yup, but not yet. Why should Flagler County be responsible for his medical bills incurred while he was acting like a moron.
Michael Van Buren says
I had a simular case where the idiot wrecked and injured himself and his passenger. It was sweet justice seeing the look on his face when I met him leaving the hospital. Justice was served and it didn’t cost the County taxpayers an extra 100,000.
Land of no turn signals says says
Show the video to the jury if it goes that far.He needs 10 years in prison, pay restitution to all and no licence another 10 years.
Lance Carroll says
From the prose in this article, it appears that the reckless vehicle was pursued within the city limits of Flagler Beach by Flagler Beach Police Department. Why did Flagler Beach Police not block A1A, while, apparently, two patrol vehicles were on the north side of town while subject vehicle was recklessly approaching? Something does seem right. Police can’t protect the community while chasing a cannonball that may very well have been able to be stopped at town line.
I asked if subject vehicle was chased, in previous post. Now the story changes. Two patrol cars, on north side of town….it sounds like to me, had plenty of time to block two lanes on N A1A. Evidently, the perpetrator outran the radio? Respectfully, radio is way faster than a speeding car.
Shark says
I would love to take a look at the deputies dashcam!!!
FlaglerLive says
Flagler Beach police patrol vehicles don’t have dash cams.
William says
How convient!
Deborah Coffey says
Book him, Danno.
Celia Pugliese says
This guy is a danger to our community on the loose…why let go after he endangered so many people including children, elderly and city officials..? Would have been same if he was a minority 34 years old, other than white? What is going on with the preservation and safety of our lives in this county and cities. We the residents have no rights? He escaped from the sheriff pursuit didn’t he? He should not be on the loose among our endangered residents!
Celia Pugliese says
This guy is a danger to our community on the loose…why let go after he endangered so many people including children, elderly and city officials..? Would have been same if he was a minority 34 years old, other than white running away on pursuit by the sheriff? What is going on with the preservation and safety of our lives in this county and cities. We, the residents have no rights? He escaped from the sheriff pursuit didn’t he? He should not be on the loose among our endangered residents! Just few days ago my elderly retired military officer that resides in Florida Park Drive was dropped like others as well from his landscaper service over being too dangerous to work on their lawn in Florida Park Drive. Our city of Palm Coast mayor, council, manager Bevan and city community over development director DeLorenzo need to hear the road front residents clamor for speed control devices (humps) and the two speed deterring islands voted down on Florida Park Drive that were pre approved and budgeted by the Holland administration! What more of their skewed data they need to not approve what the residents of FPD clamor for? Thank you this Flagler Live update. I was wondering what was the outcome of that criminal driving.
Dave says
Now lets just see how strong our court system is on this one. 15 years for what he did and could have done seems right. So courts, prove it or will this be a fine and a slap on the hand and out in 60 days
For Real says
Flagler Courts will slap his wrist and send him out the door.
Roll on 2 says
Needs a change of venue to St. Johns. Judge Maltz will throw the key away!
Doug says
His attorney has filed motions to dismiss the charges. On what grounds? Is stupidity grounds for dismissal these days?
Land of no turn signals says says
Apparently.
Danm50 says
No different than using an AR. Should have license suspension and attempted murder charges.
The inquiring mind says
If I had to guess, there may be two scenarios here;
1) This guy was either undercover Federal, State or local and either went postal himself or was responding to “a call.” Could be why he hasn’t been arrested, no charges were filed at the state level and his attorney is filing to dismiss. The question that needs to be asked by journalists if he hopefully recovers is, where was he going in such a rush? Where was he coming from in such a rush? Does he work in Law Enforcement? Why were civilian lives put at risk?
2) A reckless civilian. The question that needs to be asked by journalists if he hopefully recovers is, where was he going in such a rush? Where was he coming from in such a rush? Was it an angry reaction to something? If so, what caused the road rage?
Jane says
I was under the impression that police should not engage in high speed pursuits because of how dangerous it is when it’s a high pedestrian area.
FlaglerLive says
That’s why, as the officer notes in the article, there was no pursuit.
Carl C. says
Why is he not under arrest and incarcerated, as soon as he was released from the hospital ?
He deserves the full 15 years locked up. Any thing less is a breach of justice, and a disregard of us citizens who play by the rules in a civil society.
TR says
It’s plain to see he’s guilty from the video and has total disrespect for the law where he could have killed someone. Fortunately he did not but the victims have to most likely have pain and suffering for a very long time. IMO he needs to have the longest stay in prison without parole. But based on past evidence of criminals that do crimes the justice system is way to easy on them.
Heraldo says
When did we become a “CIVIL” society? A truer word is SICK.
beachcomer says
With the current state of the country expect a slap on the wrist with probation, expect to pay for SNAP payments for the rest of his life. Will probably get free housing and medical, and skip out on his child support to boot. As for paying for all the damage he caused, forget about it…
Burn him at the stake says
Guilty first? What if this young man was suffering from a medical event? None of you know for certain and can only guess and blast your opinions. I had a case of a young man suffering from a rapid onset medical condition that was very similar to this.
Vicki nixon says
None of us were there so we don’t really know what happened I do know that he is still in the hospital last time I checked I won’t give any more detail than that. Let’s all just wait and see what his side of the story is and yes by the grace of God he didn’t kill anyone!
Steven Kalabokes says
They should throw the book at this jerk. He had no business driving and should have his license revoked forever. Otherwise, he may kill someone the next time he gets a chance.