On January 8 in a suburban shopping area south of Atlanta, Derrick Thompson and another man met for a drug deal. Thompson, according to a criminal warrant later issued in Fulton County, Ga., got into a scuffle with the other man, took the drugs and ran. The other man shot him in the back and drove off. Thompson was dead when police arrived.
Three days later the South Fulton Police Department concluded on circuitous evidence that the shooter was a white or possibly light-skinned Black man nicknamed “Flock,” from Rochester, N.Y. He was later identified as Shaquan Moore, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy Crista Rainey was on patrol late Wednesday night when she pulled over a Dodge Charger that had been clocked at 63 in a 50, near the Wawa store on State Road 100 in Palm Coast. Justin D. Moore, 26, of Palm Coast and his half-brother had traveled from Seminole Woods to Wawa to get some snacks. Justin was at the wheel of the Charger. His brother was visiting him from his home in Lithia, Ga. He was in the passenger seat. He was later identified as Shaquan R. Moore.
What followed was the fourth seemingly routine traffic stop or street encounter in the last eight days that turned violent on local roads, this time leading to the arrest of a 21-year-old Shaquan Moore, the man wanted for murder in Georgia. He was carrying a loaded gun. (See the video below.)
Rainey had pulled them over under the gas-station awning at Wawa, and requested back-up when she smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the car, which was going to lead to a search of the car. Shaquan was scrolling through his phone as Rainey approached the car from the passenger side. She asked that the Charger be shut off, and asked Shaquan–whose name was not yet known to authorities–in the passenger seat not to use his phone just then.
“It’s an officer safety thing,” Rainey tells him. “One of the most dangerous things we do are traffic stops. Next thing you know you tell somebody that you got pulled over and we’ve got angry somebody showing up at a traffic stop, then we have to divide our attention, OK?” She asked Justin to step out and Shaquan to stay in the seat. “I’m not looking to bust somebody for just a little bit,” Rainey tells Justin as she asks him if there’s marijuana or hemp in the car. “You got a little bit. Tell me and we’ll work with you. But if you don’t tell me I’m going through the car anyway, because I have probable cause.”
“If anything, it’s probably just some stuff in the ashtray,” Justin tells her, like old “roaches,” or remnants of joints. Justin is searched, then asked to sit on the bumper of Rainey’s patrol car, where he is searched further, being asked to take off his socks and wiggle his toes. “I’ve never done it like this, this is crazy,” he says, continuing to comply with all commands.
Her narrated description in Shaquan’s arrest report is more accurate: “Justin was mildly argumentative and appeared to be a little nervous and moving around while I was speaking to him,” she wrote. “Because of this, I placed him in handcuffs for officer safety. He was then placed in the backseat of my patrol vehicle.” She tells him he’s not under arrest, just being “detained” until the investigation is over.
She then walks back to Shaquan, who by then had been asked to stand by near the back of the same car. But when Rainey tells him “we’re going to do the same thing for you,” the situation quickly degrades, but the camera no longer shows what took place as it seems to have fallen, with Rainey’s and the second deputy’s voices repeatedly heard saying “stop resisting,” and Shaquan screaming “I’m not.”
Rainey’s narrative describes the scene: As deputy Clay attempted to pat him down, he would not comply with instructions, and when Rainey decided to handcuff him, he “immediately made several attempts to pull away and eventually tried to run from myself and deputy Clay. I was able to grab Shaquan’s legs, which caused him to fall to the ground.” The deputy says he continued to pull away as she warned him he’d get tased if he didn’t stop. “Shaquan stated he was not resisting, even though he continuously attempted to defeat our efforts to secure him in handcuffs.”
The two deputies were attempting to control Shaquan–who appeared to them to be repeatedly reaching for his waistband, where a 9mm TP9 handgun would be found later, according to Rainey’s report–when a third deputy approached and after warning him, tased Shaquan in stun mode “three or four times,” bringing him under control.
“This is what you’re trying to do–are you dumb?” Rainey yells, disbelieving, when the gun is found on him moments later. The gun was loaded. Shaquan told deputies he was not trying to resist–only trying to hand them the gun.
Shaquan didn’t have identification on him. When he gave his full name and a database search was conducted, it produced the warrant for his arrest on a murder charge. He otherwise has no criminal history, Rainey noted.
Shaquan appeared disbelieving when a deputy told him of the warrant.
Shaquan was arrested on a charged possession of a concealed weapon charge and a resisting arrest charge, along with the execution of the Fulton County warrant. He was being held on $6,000 bond on the local charges, and no bond on the Georgia warrant.
The car search produced an amount of marijuana so small that “it was consumed during the testing process.” Justin was issued a verbal warning for both his pot possession and speeding violation and released, along with his vehicle.
“This goes to show that no traffic stop is ‘routine’ and a simple speeding violation can quickly escalate into a violent encounter with a very dangerous individual,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “DFC Rainey had no idea that she was pulling over a fugitive wanted for murder.” (The acronym stands for deputy first class.) This could have easily turned into a deadly encounter but our deputies reacted quickly, used their training to safely take this suspect into custody and, thankfully, God was watching over our deputies last night.”
Just since March 10, a traffic stop on I-95, an attempted traffic stop on U.S. 1 and an encounter with a pedestrian near U.S. 1 in Bunnell all led to violent outcomes or confrontations involving sheriff’s deputies.
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Rob says
I applaud our Flagler police for handling difficult situations like this and getting trouble off of the streets.
Thank you!
Mark says
A few things about this stop seem mishandled by deputy Rainey, hopefully charges will stick, sadley it seems she loses her cool a few times possibly escalating things more instead of de escalation. But mostly a good out come. In the future try to do a bit better on the emotional side of things.
Kris says
Life and death should warrant a bit of emotion.
Steve says
Seems FPC is a magnet for Idiocy, murderers Criminals on the run. If not for the Marijuana smell Probable Cause a full fledged Murderer thug would be running in the Community . If not for quick Police work a shootout would have entailed IMO. Everyone’s better off with that person off the Streets. Be safe, unreal
Jimbo99 says
Anyone believe for a moment from the video that when started this at the Wawa that they didn’t already know who they had there ? Yeah, there were FCSO everywhere for a 63 in a 50 mph traffic stop ? I get it, 63 mph in a 50 mph speed limit zone (FL-100) is a routine traffic stop around Palm Coast/Flagler County. When they asked them about the drugs & any firearms, they knew just based upon the Atlanta, GA crime what they were dealing with. The whole point of the vehicle search was to rack up as many violations as possible. Please the officer wasn’t interested in a minor bust for drugs. Arrests are a points system, the more points, the better for convictions on any charge/count. The shoes came off just in case the dude was going to make a run to escape. The handcuffs went on too. BTW, they did a great job, they got him off the streets, who knows what the other guy was involved in though from the Atlanta, GA crime. When this goes to court, we’ll have the one dude that shot & killed, he’s a slam dunk, the other guy, the jury probably has to sit thru 2 presentations, one the most heinous of guilty prosecutions and the other the most angelic of innocent defenses and make some sense of what really happened.
Trouble Coming says
The female officer had NO probably cause to pull them over or handcuff the first one for the “smell of marijuana”. This crap has to stop or Palm Coast will BURN !!!
BMW says
63 mph in a 50. Are you serious?
Crockett says
Excellent article. So FCSO is doing strip searches based off smells? How many people have you done this to over a minor infraction and aren’t criminals? Bating them into reacting by insulting and demeaning them over a potential ticket. Also, how does a deputy acknowledge “hemp” which isn’t illegal and indistinguishable to Marijuana neither by sight or smell get probable causer for a search? Oh, l get it. Play off the fact that your would be criminals don’t know the law. It didn’t matter anyway they were going to find a way to search the pair and car either way.
Florida state attorneys have gone on record saying canines may be out of a job because of the mix up between hemp and Marijuana. But yet and still deputy dog has it all figured here by her nose, enough to tell a grown man to takes his shoes and socks so she can smell feet too! Ridiculous… If her hunch showed her right the passenger/suspect would have been the first person she/they searched. If he were a real killer he could have got the drop on them. I’m starting to hear of too many stories in this town of deputies knowingly violating people’s rights in search of the big collar, or antagonizing citizens to get a reaction that warrents the escalation of force. So, homicide detectives in GA didn’t reach out to FCSO that their suspects close relatives were here and he may be here too? One big coincidence. I’m going keep up on the GA case to see of this young man is really even the shooter.
BMW says
Did you watch the video? The officer asked each if they had a permit for the marijuana. “If he were a real killer he could have got the drop on them?” Asking again, did you watch the video? The kid kept reaching for something on his body. In what universe is someone going 13 miles over the speed limit, with the smell of dope coming from the car, not a reason to further investigate? One gets the feeling you are okay with a potential murder suspect with a loaded gun roaming around our community.
Crocket says
The murder suspect wasn’t the one driving. Blue lives matter to YOU when their doing questionable tactics on young black men. Your fake outrage is evident. I want to see how many arrest and videos from FCSO showing white males or white people in this town being pulled from their cars and made to take their shoes and socks off because of speeding and a supposed smell?
This all falls on deaf ears anyway. This country consists of the biggest hypocrites in the world. Patriots, Blue Lives Matter, Law and order? Yeah, only when white America gets the benefit of feeling like the police aren’t policing them. Biggest phonies imaginable, the whole world can see it.
Allyn S Feinstein says
I am glad he was caught before he could hurt anyone. Hopefully, he won’t be given an opportunity to make bail.
amazed says
Side-Show Bob?? Bart will be so disappointed.
Brian says
Can’t you just see it now if Shaquan had successfully pulled his gun and the deputies were forced to kill him. Flagler County would be national news! “Another young black man gunned down by white cops!” “Let’s burn down some cities! Especially Wal-Mart, I need a new flat-screen!” Al Sharpton and Benjamin Crump would be at Town Center! Maybe we could even have a nationally televised funeral with 500 people crammed together sweating and spitting on each other. Anyway, another stellar performance by our beloved FCSO – thanks again for all you do!
Rich H. says
Another great job done by F.C.S.O. officers. Thank you for ridding the streets of more trash.
BMW says
“Stop reaching for shit!”. God bless Officer Rainey as this could have escalated into murder. It’s so easy for people to join the emotional narrative of BLM, but the God honest truth is Officer Rainey stumbled upon a person wanted for murder who had a loaded gun who, according to the obvious struggle and the audio, was ‘reaching for shit’. We are so fortunate to have a professional County Sheriff Department. And, not so fortunate to have an underlying problem with those who are obviously missing guidance in their lives in our idyllic community. I pray for all involved.
Tim stur says
There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop!
JustBeNice says
The two most dangerous situations for a police officer are traffic stops and domestic calls. Thank you FCSO for your bravery and love for our community.
FlaglerBear says
Sometimes it rather amazes me that people overlook the fact that a potential murderer (one who was most likely trying to kill a cop as well) was taken off the streets of Flagler County while they slept comfortably in their beds and complain about the injustice of the marijuana laws; or the officers’ bad attitudes, or the finer points of search and seizure. They’d rather the deputies do NOTHING, just sit around and drink coffee and watch the sun come up. Well folks! Didn’t happen in this case. Sorry to disappoint. One deputy decided to do her job and a killer is in jail. Duh! Isn’t that what we pay them for? Just say thanks and go back to bed.
Crocket says
How is a killer in Jail? Has he been convicted or even extradited? Go rid the Capital for a second time Patriot!
Mark says
A violation against one persons constitutional rights is a violation agianst them all. You cant allow illegal search and seizure no matter what the outcome. You must do things the right way. Not to mention the femle officer hurling insults and escalating an already dangerous situation.
Jim dean says
Smell of Marijuana is not probable cause to search in Florida anymore
Steve says
BS Its still Illegal. If you dont have a Medical Card you are DUI or Pocession etc . No one I know with a Med Card drives around smoking it driving. Its DUI. No one smokes then goes driving. You are only kidding yourself.
Cybercrimes says
You can still search a vehicle based on the odor of marijuana. A cop needs more than just the smell to justify the probable cause though. Deputy Rainey obtained the other factors, reaching the probable cause. I’m not going to tell you the other factors, you can do your research.
Crockett says
Oh, the Police can do no wrong. Except when they tell a white person to put a mask on. Anyway, this is what SOME of are up against on a daily basis. “Family of husband who survived Atlanta spa shooting tell how he escaped only to be handcuffed for TWO HOURS by cops who thought he was the shooter – as his wife lay dying inside from gunshot wounds”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9381897/Family-husband-survived-Atlanta-spa-shooting-tell-escaped-handcuffed.html
Steve says
BS Its still Illegal. If you dont have a Medical Card you are DUI or Pocession etc . No one I know with a Med Card drives around smoking it driving. Its DUI. No one smokes then goes driving. You are only kidding yourself.
Awakening says
First of all, they were NOT pulled because of their color, they were pulled because they were speeding. You could NOT see in the car until they walked up to it at Wawa.
Second, the smell of marijuana IS probable cause to search in the state of Florida. Look it up!
Third, the passenger, the one with the gun, the one that tried to run, the one that fought and didn’t listen to what he was asked to do, has a warrant out of Georgia for shooting and killing a man that he robbed for drugs. Look it up!
Fourth, the driver who listened and done what he was asked to do was released. He did NOT get arrested.
And a final note. Deputy Rainey did an awesome job and done it correctly.
It’s easy to sit here and judge and criticize because you have NO idea what these deputies have to deal with everyday. If you think you could do a better job, get your ass out there and do it. I guarantee you call them when you need help though, don’t you!!
The cops are not the problem. Idiots that don’t listen and break the law are. When are we going to stop praising these criminals and murders?
God bless our LEO!!