A Flagler County school bus carrying less than two dozen students from Old Kings Elementary School was involved in a minor wreck at 4:30 this afternoon at Colechester Lane and Colleen Court. No one was hurt.
Cops/Courts
Showing Cops the Middle Finger
When John Swartz was arrested for flipping off a cop, he sued, and appears headed for a win–as he should: rude expression is not a crime, and the obscenity is far surpassed by that of cops exercising arbitrary authority over bruised egos.
Tony Hugueley, 64, Dies of Injuries After Driving Antique Chevy Into the Woods on A1A
Tony Hugueley, 64, of Palm Coast and Poolesville, Md., was driving alone in his 1956 Chevy Bel-Air on A1A in the Hammock when, for unknown reasons, he suddenly veered into the woods. He suffered severe head injuries.
After Fatal Plane Crash, Federal Investigators and One House Survivor Begin Picking Up Some Pieces
A plane traveling from Fort Pierce, Fla., to Knoxville, Tenn., with three people on board crashed into a house at 22 Utica Path off Seminole Woods Blvd. in Palm Coast shortly after 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Bill Filed in Florida to Repeal Red-Light Cameras as State Report Points to Fewer Crashes
A South Florida lawmaker filed legislation Friday to repeal the law allowing the use of red light cameras, following a report earlier this week that says intersections where they’re used have seen drops in crashes in most places.
Mondex’s Kenneth Morrow Is Shot and Killed in a Suicidal Confrontation With Volusia Cops
Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies attempting to negotiate with a suicidal man armed with a handgun opened fire and killed 52-year-old Kenneth Morrow of Daytona North Wednesday evening in Ormond Beach after Morrow “advanced” on deputies while brandishing a gun, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Arrest Follows Violent Encounter on I-95 as Victim Attempts to Jump Out of Speeding Car
Henry Charles Holmes Jr. was booked into the Flagler County jail on New Year’s eve on eight charges of illegal drug possession, aggravated battery and domestic violence following an incident involving his girlfriend on I-95, where his girlfriend allegedly attempted to evade him by jumping out of his car even as it was speeding north.
Codie Barlow, 20, Killed in Bike Wreck on Palm Coast’s Pacific Dr. in Earliest Hours of 2013
Cody Ray Barlow, a 20-year-old resident of Pebble Beach Drive in Palm Coast, was killed barely three hours into the new year, as he missed a curve and drove his motorcycle into a mailbox just 1.2 miles from his house. The wreck took place at 3:30 Tuesday morning.
Wreck Closes Old Kings Road North of Town Center Boulevard
Old Kings Road north of Town Center Boulevard closed shortly before 2 this afternoon, and was likely to remain closed for about an hour, following a wreck that required the response of firefighters to ensure that the woodline would not catch fire.
110 Pot Plants Removed from Grow House on Fleming Ct., 4th Palm Coast Bust in 10 Months
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Shaune Lawrence of 5 Fleming Court in Palm Coast earlier today on marijuana cultivation charges, after he reported his house was being robbed.
City Thuggery: Florida Supreme Court Should Ban Red-Light Spy-and-Snap Traffic Cameras
Florida’s new law legalizing red-light cameras ensures that state coffers are on the take. But it does not address the fundamental problems with spy-and-snap cameras. There are innumerable reasons to ban them. There’s only one reason to keep them, and it’s a slimy one: money.
FHP Looking for Red Trail Blazer in Hit-and-Run that Killed Sean Lynn Ryan Saturday
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a red Chevrolet Trail Blazer with extensive damage, involved in the hit-and-run that claimed the life of Sean Lynn Ryan, a 24-year-old resident of Palm Coast, early Saturday. The public’s help is requested.
Red-Light Cameras’ Legality and Other Florida Supreme Court Cases to Watch in 2013
Leaving behind months of political turbulence, the Florida Supreme Court in 2013 could decide a series of high-profile cases dealing with issues such as Palm Coast’s red-light cameras, the state pension system and medical-malpractice lawsuits.
Graham Swamp Again at Center of Allegations of Lewd Acts, This Time Targeting 15 Year Old
A 15-year-old boy reported to a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy that as he was walking the path around the pond at Graham Swamp, a man twice his age exposed himself then pulled the juvenile’s pants and underwear down, and touched his genitals. The man was arrested.
Amend the Second Amendment
If we want to transform American society for generations to come, tinkering with our existing patchwork quilt of federal, state, and municipal laws dealing with firearms is a waste of time. The only transformational vehicle for meaningful action, writes Angel Castillo, is to change the Constitution.
When Flagler’s Firefighters Are A Lot More Than First Responders
When the author’s father died at an assisted living facility in Palm Coast two years ago, paramedics had to be called in to take care of his aunt’s panic attack. What followed illustrates our first responders’ routine and largely unheralded heroism.
For Needy Children’s Christmas, Flagler Fire Fighters’ Union Answers the Call of the Year
Kyle Lockwood, a firefighter-paramedic with Flagler County Fire Rescue, organized a gift drive for 42 of the county’s neediest children and, with colleagues, delivered the gifts to children and their families Friday in the courthouse parking lot.
Flagler Schools Considering Public Color-Coded Emergency System to Signal Lockdowns
Before the Newtown massacre but after a close call with a student who threatened to attack a school last week, Flagler school and sheriff’s officials met to devise a system that would let people know in real time when a school, college or day care center was in lockdown.
Sharps Liquor at Flagler Plaza Is Robbed for the 3rd Time in Since October 2011
Sharps Liquor in the Flagler Plaza shopping center in Palm Coast was robbed at 11:17 Friday morning, again with a firearm involved, and on a busy shopping day. No one was hurt.
Palm Coast Cyclist Kyle Forgie, 17, Critical After Hit-and-Run as FHP Asks for Leads
Authorities are searching for a driver responsible for a hit-and-run collision on Palm Coast Parkway that left 17-year-old bicyclist Kyle Forgie of Palm Coast in critical condition Thursday evening.
Fight at Town Center McDonald’s, Car Shot in Bunnell, But Connection Uncertain
The fight at McDonald’s followed a 55-46 loss by FPC’s basketball team to Palatka, at FPC, and reportedly involved students from both schools. A car shot up with bullets was later found in Bunnell.
Abuse of Girls at Milton Detention Facility Exposes Flaws in Florida’s Juvenile Justice
The Florida juvenile prison for girls got a 100 percent satisfactory rating from the state a year ago, though two staffers have been accused of abusing girls there, and one was caught on video.
Floridians Pick New License Plate Design, With a Nod to Africa
After three weeks of online voting for the new Florida license plate, the design with the solid green bars and the artistic orange forming the ‘O” in the word Florida is the most popular. A total of 50,124 votes were cast in the online contest.
Three Blazes in 2 Days Prompt Flagler-Palm Coast Fire Chiefs to Highlight Holiday Safety
Firefighters battled three residential fires in two days this weekend—two in Palm Coast, one in Flagler Beach—though in every case firefighters got to the scene fast enough to limit the damage. The county’s three fire chiefs spoke of the need for heightened safety vigilance around the holidays.
Details Emerge in Saturday’s Shooting Death As Gordon’s Family Disputes Police Version
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office released a report detailing the events that led to a deputy’s shooting death of Troy Gordon on Brownstone Lane Sunday evening, but Gordon’s grandmother is disputing earlier reports that Gordon had been threatening to her, or damaging her house.
Deputy Shoots and Kills 32-Year-Old Wielding Machete in One Hand and Bible in the Other
A Flagler County Sheriff’s Deputy shot and killed a young man on Brownstone Lane in Palm Coast around 4:45 this afternoon as the man was wielding a Bible in one hand and a machete in the other, and had become violent toward his family.
Sheriff Fleming Restores to Full Rank Deputy Accused of Skimming Time, as Others Dissent
An internal investigation of Sgt. Jamie Roster, based on testimonies from men he supervised, had found him to have falsified time sheets for more than $8,000. The settlement between Fleming and the PBA means Roster will serve a one-day suspension without pay and be returned to full Sergeant duty in charge of the men who’d reported on him.
Palm Coast City Truck Collides With Faith Driving School Car on Red Mill, Injuring One
A Palm Coast pick-up truck belonging to the city’s public works department collided with a Toyota Corolla belonging to Faith Driving School on Red Mill Drive in Palm Coast, injuring at least one person, who was taken to Florida Hospital Flagler.
BOLO: Christmas With a Deputy Will Light Up Target With 100 Children Friday Evening
Don’t panic: more than 60 cop cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring will take 100 children, with $150 gift certificate each, to Target at Town Center Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m.
SWAT Team and Fire Flight Deliver: 20-Year-Old Is Caught at 3:25 p.m. on John Anderson Hwy
Three unrelated wrecks at US1 and Palm Coast Parkway kept emergency authorities busy, while at 8:30 the county’s two high schools and Daytona State went on lockdown following comments on Facebook school authorities were concerned about.
Calling It “Grinching,” 3 Palm Coast Teens Vandalize Through F Section Ornaments
Zachary Jacobs, Matthew Leslie Smith and James Joseph Rumph (the fourth), all 17, now facing felony charges for allegedly rampaging through Palm Coast’s F Section early Sunday morning, stealing Christmas ornaments, damaging mailboxes and smashing one car’s rear window.
Civil Citations for Non-Violent Offenses Can Reduce Jail Needs, Court Costs, and Undue Arrests
Even with no criminal intent, we can easily be caught breaking a law. Until now, law enforcement officers in Florida have had only two choices in these circumstances: let you go or arrest you. Civil citations are the smarter alternative, argues Mark Flynn, CEO of the Florida Smart Justice Alliance.
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO David Ottati in Awe of EMS Response at Trauma Wreck Scene
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO David Ottati witnessed the wreck of motorcyclist Brian Davis on john Anderson Highway Friday night, called 911, assisted the victim, then was in awe of Flagler County Fire Rescue’s paramedics at work as he’d never seen them beyond the hospital.
Woody’s Joe Rizzo, Incoming President of Flagler Education Foundation, Is Hurt by Fire
Joe Rizzo, co-owner of Woody’s Restaurant and the incoming president of the Flagler County Education Foundation, was preparing to host the foundation’s annual Christmas party at his house when his shirt caught fire, burning 11 percent of his body.
Two Overnight Wrecks–a Biker on John Anderson and a Car on I-95–Result in 2 More Critical Injuries
Brian A. Davis, 30, was critically injured when he lost control of his Harley Davidson on John Anderson Highway at 9:45 p.m. Friday. Another driver was critically injured when he lost control of his car on I-95, just north of the Palm Coast Parkway exist, at 3 a.m. Saturday.
14-Year-Old Boy Critically Hurt in Wreck on Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road
Matthew Yarborough, 14, was critically injured and a 12-year-old boy had minor injuries following a two-vehicle crash on Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road at 7:40 this evening (Dec. 7). Two adults involved in the crash–both drivers–were not injured.
Lumpkins Cousins and D’Corius Hill Arrested in R-Section Burglary Ring
D’Corius Hill, Cousins Raymond Lumpkins and Ebony Lumpkins lived together at Wellshire Lane in Palm Coast and were involved, with Jeremiah Harris, in burglaries in the R Section, including the incident that led to a police chase Monday.
Palm Coast’s Plan to Install Red-Light Spy Cameras on SR100 Faces New Obstacle
Flagler County runs the lights’ infrastructure, and must give its permission to Palm Coast to plug in its spy-camera system. The county, which opposes cameras on SR100, won’t grant permission.
Case Closed: Sheriff Fleming Will Pay $500 Fine to Settle Hammock Club Ethics Violation
the Florida Commission on Ethics is expected to approve the settlement agreement at its meeting next month, two weeks after Fleming will have left office after eight years as Flagler County Sheriff.
Bill Filed to Ban Police from Using Drones To Gather Evidence Anywhere in Florida
Miami Police were the first civilian police agency in the nation to use unmanned drones, but police anywhere in Florida would be prohibited from using un-manned drones to gather evidence or other information, under a bill filed Thursday by Senate Republican Joe Negron.
Devin Kolb Is 3rd Charged in Fregenti Money-Laundering Scheme Involving $3.22 Million
Devin Kolb on Tuesday was charged on one count of money laundering more than $100,000, a first degree felony, joining Anthony Fregenti and Michael Stevens in what the State Attorney’s office says involved a scheme to launder $3.22 million in five months between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010.
Supreme Court Denies Last Appeal by Manuel Pardo, Cop Turned Executioner Scheduled to Die Dec. 11
Manuel Pardo, 56, is scheduled to die Dec. 11 at Florida State Prison in Starke. Pardo was convicted in 1988 after admitting to nine execution-style murders. He said he should avoid culpability because he believed all the victims to be drug dealers who he said “have no right to live.”
Sheriff Fleming “Conflicting” Under Oath, But Cleared of Wrongdoing in Fischer Case
Sheriff Fleming made conflicting and inaccurate statements under oath regarding his phone calls with John Fischer following Fischer’s wife’s involvement in a fatal hit-and-run last year, a state attorney’s report concludes, but there’s no evidence of “improper or illegal contact” between the two men, the report states.
Paul Miller, Accused Flagler Beach
Murderer, Scheduled for Trial Feb. 25
Paul Miller, who faces a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Dana Mulhall during an argument in March, will go on trial on Feb. 25, or that week, after an appearance in court today.
Three Students Hospitalized, One With Head Trauma, After A1A Crash in Ormond Beach
Toni J. Kilgore-Byriel, 45, of Ormond Beach, was driving south on Oceanshore Boulevard and taking her son and two other boys to school at Seabreeze High School this morning when she was struck by Jacob Shannon, 26, who was driving a Nissan.
Two Damaging Chases, 2 Arrests, Innumerable Charges. But Should She Be in Jail?
Deborah Brinkman, 60, took Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies on two car chases through Palm Coast in seven days, damaging three police cruisers, and was jailed again Monday on several charges, including battery on a cop, but her behavior raises questions about the county’s ability to respond beyond jail to individuals with mental health issues.
David Brown, 55, of Palm Coast, Killed in Motorcycle Wreck on Deadly Stretch of U.S. 1
A 55-year-old Palm Coast resident was killed at 10 p.m. Monday when he lost control of his motorcycle on a notoriously deadly curve on U.S. 1, just south of the intersection with Belle Terre Boulevard and north of County Road 304.
Ex-Cop Jailed After Taunting Neighbor With Shotgun and “Stand Your Ground” Sign
Douglas Pulaski, a 50-year-old former police officer and resident of the W Section in Palm Coast was arrested Saturday night after displaying a 20-gauge shotgun at a neighbor and allegedly telling him “I never miss” as he pointed to a hand-painted sign in his driveway that read “Stand Your Ground.”
Manfre Picks Rick Staly as Undersheriff, Passing Over O’Brien, Who’ll Be Chief Deputy
Incoming Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre’s appointment of Rick Staly as undersheriff signals Manfre’s intent to shake up the internal workings of the agency while maintaining some continuity with O’Brien, who’d risen to chief deputy during Manfre’s first tenure between 2001 and 2004.
R-Section Cop Chase Ends in 3 Arrests and a Crash; Rymfire School Briefly Locked Down
Three men are in police custody this morning, one of them after a lay-over at Florida Hospital Flagler, following a chase through Palm Coast’s R Section that ended with an SUV’s crash in the middle of Royal Palms Parkway.