January 17th, 2023 FCSO responded to a call from a Bunnell parent about their child having possibly gone to Holland Park in Palm Coast to engage in a physical fight with other juveniles. The Bunnell parent called again stating his guns were missing and his juvenile child may have stolen them.
Deputies arrived at Holland Park and at the Bunnell residence of the man and child. The juvenile was informed of his rights and stated he would speak with law enforcement with his father present. The juvenile, M.T., stated that he was involved in an ongoing argument amongst some other juveniles, and stated that he took the handguns to scare the other juveniles at the park.
Deputies searched the juveniles phone and discovered multiple threats, including threats state he would shoot and/or kill other people.
The juvenile was arrested and charged with Sending Written Threats to Kill, Grand Theft($750-$5,000), and two counts of Grand Theft of a Firearm.
“Thank you to the father of M.T. who saw something, and said something! Because of his actions and
responding FCSO deputies, a potentially deadly altercation between juveniles was likely avoided,” said
Sheriff Rick Staly. “Parents, be the Sheriff in your home and talk to your children on how to handle
disagreements. Taking a gun to an argument, is not it! If you don’t, we will be the Sheriff to your
children and the outcome will likely be an arrest. I also commend our K-9 Unit, School Resource
Deputies, Community Policing Division, and detectives for quickly intervening to get these guns out of
the hands of juveniles before someone could get hurt or killed.”
On Thursday, after further investigation, FCSO discovered one of the juvenile’s friends hiding at his girlfriends house; The juvenile in hiding was found with the second stolen gun. This juvenile was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, Tampering with Evidence, and Grand Theft of a Firearm.
