Last Updated: Tuesday, 1:20 p.m.
Palm Coast and Flagler County’s tourism office have gone to great length to turn the county into a choice destination for all sorts of niche sports tournaments–soccer, lacrosse, even quidditch, that odd brew from Harry Potter’s fictional alchemy that became an actual sport on college campuses. In large part the two governments have succeeded. But on occasion something happens out of their control to mar their efforts.
One such incident took place early Sunday morning when 35-year-old Samuel Foy, who was staying at the Red Roof Inn off of Old Kings Road in Palm Coast, got upset with noise in the hallway and, according to his arrest report, threatened a bunch of teens–visiting soccer players–with a handgun, scaring several of them senseless. The teens were part of the Florida Youth Soccer Association’s State Cup, at the Indian Trails Sports Complex.
A Red Roof Inn employee who called cops reported to a deputy that around midnight, she heard Foy screaming at a half dozen teenagers in the hallway. Foy, a resident of Gainesville, Ga., had a holstered pistol in his hand. The employee asked Foy to go back to his room and put his weapon away, which he did. (The arrest report lists the witness as “Mr. Simpson,” but in a different section of the report, where names of those involved are listed, the person listed is Stacy Simpson, 48.)
Deputies called Foy by phone and asked him to leave his room. They searched him. He had no weapon on him by then. A deputy secured the firearm from a suitcase in Foy’s room. He did not have a concealed weapon permit for it.
Foy told deputies he was sleeping in his room when he heard loud noises from the teenagers in the hallway. He said there’d been similar issues earlier: “Since checking in, Mr. Foy said that the teenagers were constantly making noise,” the report states. (Foy had checked “at approximately 8 p.m.” the evening of May 2. He was arrested six minutes before 1 a.m.). Foy’s description of how he confronted the teens was redacted, as self-incriminating statements may be redacted from arrest reports.
Four teens spoke to deputies, describing a similar succession of events: Foy coming out of his room, confronting them, yelling, reaching for the weapon in its holster, and yelling at them to “shut the fuck up.” The teens, 14 and 15 years old, ran out of the hotel and hid near bushes.
Foy was arrested on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon–each a third-degree felony–and a count of displaying a weapon in the act of committing a felony, a second-degree felony. He posted bail on $10,000 bond and was released. His arraignment is on June 1.
Ryan Woodrum, a manager at the Red Roof Inn, on Tuesday rudely disputed the facts of the case, downplaying the severity of the incident and saying the teens were “laughing” about it not long afterward. He refused to provide a supervisor’s name.
Footballen says
While it is ridiculous of this idiot to bring a gun into that situation, I do believe the Hotel should try and keep crowds of children confined to an area that will not keep other guests up all night.
confidential says
Bullies with guns what else..? Threatening our sports athletes over noise. Just what we need as a welcome matt. Two Sundays ago right by the highest green mound of the Palm Harbor Golf course in Club House Drive and while several golfer teams of ladies and men were aiming at it, a crazy nuts known to be a homeless hosted across the street by a wealthy bleeding heart, was playing the monkey and screaming from the top of his lungs and doing cart wheels etc. among the golfers disrupting their game as witnessed by neighbors from their homes. If was myself seeing that intrusion in the golf course that dysfunctional man would have landed in jail. Those golfers aficionados intimidated did not call the cops. Let me find this dude doing that again.
Florida sustains itself of tourism and sports visitors and we all need to protect that industry that is a clean and much better than any other.
Parker says
Why where 14 and 15 year olds in hallways of a motel at that hour ? Where were the adults who are suppose to keep these kids in their rooms ? I hope Mr Foy sues the hell out of that “sports team” organizers and the motel for not keeping security in that place.
Jeannie says
Maybe the little darling should have been in bed at that hour instead of harassing people trying to sleep. How many times do you have to complain to the hotel for them to do something. If they had handled it this man would not be in jail now. I blame the hotel management for not dealing with the problem in the first place. Why were the kids in the hallway at that hour? Where were the chaperons? You pay for a room, you should be able to get some sleep.
The Truth says
Another upstanding individual allowed to purchase a gun. Thanks America!
Sherry E says
She said sarcastically. . . NO! We do not need NO gun safety laws. . . just let idiot, hot head, mental case buy one and threaten children! No background check, no waiting period (that’s only for abortions)! Then, let’s BLAME the kids for being kids!
It would be interesting to know if Mr. Foy even bothered to complain to the adult team leaders, the hotel or call the police before pulling a gun out of his suitcase to traumatize those kids.