Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies made 21 arrests over the long holiday weekend between 6 a.m. on Friday, December 22, 2023, and 6 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, and handled 1,417 calls for service and made 244 traffic stops.
“It was a long holiday weekend for most, but it was also a busy holiday weekend for FCSO deputies,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Thank you to the deputies, dispatchers, detention staff, and the rest of the FCSO team for working hard and sacrificing time away from their families.”
Driver Arrested on Several Charges Following Traffic Stop
On Saturday night, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on County Road 305 in Bunnell. The vehicle continued driving on County Road 305 and then turned onto County Road 2006 West despite the emergency lights being activated. The driver then turned onto a residential property off of CR-2006 West before coming to a stop. The homeowner had no association with the driver and did not know why he pulled onto their property.
The driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as Rory Dement, exited the vehicle and was secured. While searching Dement for potential weapons, deputies located methamphetamine in his pants pocket. Deputies also located a glass pipe lying on the floorboard of the vehicle.
While confirming Dement’s identity, it was determined he had an active warrant for Violation of Probation in reference to DV Battery and he was also in violation of his probation on-site.
Dement was placed under arrest for Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/Equipment, Driving with License Suspended with Knowledge, Violation of Probation – Misdemeanor, and Violation of Probation – On-Site. Dement was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is currently being held on $7,000 bond. Dement has an arrest history including Dealing in Stolen Property and DV Battery.
Deputies Locate Missing Woman in the Woods
On Tuesday night, a caller contacted FCSO Communications to report a woman yelling for help in the woods who had also been seen on hunting trail cameras in the area of County Road 305 and County Road 2006 West. When deputies arrived around 7:20 pm, they could hear the woman yelling and the dog barking in the woods. Deputies utilized Flagler County Fire Rescue’s thermal imaging camera to assist in determining the woman’s general location before entering the woods to search for her.
After approximately one hour of searching, deputies located the woman who was disoriented and cold sitting in the brush with her dog. With help from Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighters, the woman was carried out of the woods and transported to the hospital for further medical treatment. The woman’s dog was turned over to a family member.
Body camera footage of the woman’s rescue can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/47h7Nzd
