Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies made 27 arrests over the long holiday weekend between 6 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2024, and 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2024. They handled 1,150 calls for service and made 293 traffic stops and 5 DUI arrests.
During the holiday weekend, FCSO and law enforcement partners conducted extra patrols focusing on aggressive and drunk driving on Flagler County roadways. Multiple drunk drivers were arrested. Additionally, the FCSO Marine Unit partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to patrol Flagler County waterways. The Marine Unit conducted 19 vessel stops but did not encounter anyone boating while impaired.
“It was an especially busy holiday weekend for our deputies,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “We saw plenty of visits to the Green Roof Inn for narcotics possession and DUIs, so they saw some new bars. But the good news is that every one the Marine Unit came in contact with had not been drinking, or they had a sober captain.”
DeLand Man Arrested for Reckless Driving, Two Counts of Child Abuse, and Fentanyl Possession
On May 26, at approximately 11:51 p.m., Deputy Prevatt was conducting proactive patrols around State Road 11 in Bunnell when she observed a white sedan traveling south. The vehicle continued through a four-way intersection and accelerated at a high rate of speed. Deputy Prevatt activated her radar which indicated a speed of 128 MPH in a 60 MPH zone. The vehicle continued for a few moments until it came to a stop in the 13000 block of SR 11, at which time Deputy Prevatt conducted a traffic stop.
The driver, identified as James Keosavanh, 39, of DeLand, stated that he had two juveniles in the car. During questioning, he apologized multiple times but did not provide a reason for his high rate of speed and failure to stop immediately.
Deputies determined the juveniles were properly restrained. However, it was determined that physical injury could have resulted due to the high rate of speed they were traveling. Keosavanh was arrested for Reckless Driving and two counts of Child Abuse without Great Bodily Harm.
During a search, two small baggies containing a white powdery substance were found in Keosavanh’s wallet. The substances tested positive for fentanyl. Keosavanh was also arrested for Possession of Fentanyl. The children were turned over to family members.
Keosavanh was transported to the Sheriff Perry Inmate Detention Facility (SPHIDF) and was later released on a $6,500 bond.
Traffic Stop in Palm Coast Leads to Arrest of Armed Drug Dealer
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Just after 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, Deputy Dorsey was conducting a proactive patrol near Forest Grove Drive in Palm Coast when he observed a silver Honda Civic fail to completely stop before turning onto Old Kings Road.
Deputy Dorsey conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at Matanzas Woods Parkway and Bird of Paradise Drive. Before exiting his patrol vehicle, Deputy Dorsey saw the front passenger bend forward and make frantic movements inside the passenger area of the vehicle.
Deputy Dorsey contacted the driver and identified the passenger as Jashua Payne-Clark, 29, a Palm Coast resident. Deputy Dorsey noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Both the driver and passenger stated there were at least three firearms inside the vehicle but said there were no drugs inside.
In a search of the vehicle, deputies located a 9-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine containing 18 rounds of ammunition in the center console. Deputies also located a backpack behind the passenger seat which Payne-Clark said belonged to him. The backpack contained a total of nine individually packaged, designer marijuana baggies containing a total of 30.69 grams of marijuana; six other empty baggies with marijuana residue; and four prescription pill bottles containing four round blue pills that were identified as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and five and a half round blue pills that were identified as alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Payne-Clark was arrested for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, Carrying a concealed Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Alprazolam, Possession of Amphetamines, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the SPHIDF and was later released on a $7,000 bond.
“What started as a traffic stop led to the arrest of a poison peddler, so I commend Deputy Dorsey for seeing beyond just the simple infraction,” said Sheriff Staly. “A warning to others: Don’t bring your poison business here. We will catch you, and you’ll find yourself behind bars.”
Extra Patrols Focused on Aggressive and Drunk Driving Lead to Multiple DUI Arrests
Multiple drunk or impaired drivers were sent to the Green Roof Inn over the long holiday weekend. FCSO made four DUI arrests, while the Florida Highway Patrol made one arrest throughout the cooperative traffic enforcement operation. On Saturday night, May 25, FCSO Communications received a call regarding a white Volkswagen sedan driving erratically, including drifting into oncoming traffic and nearly hitting other cars. Deputy Dorsey located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Carolyn Steger, 19, of Palm Coast, failed a series of field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and released on a $1,000 bond.
Later that night, deputies were responding to a reported disturbance when they were notified that one of the parties was intoxicated and leaving the scene in a white Mercury SUV. The vehicle was quickly located at 1405 Saloon Bar by officers with the Bunnell Police Department. Officers contacted the driver, Cristina Cabassa, 44, of Bunnell. When Deputy Marsan arrived, she conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which Cabassa failed. Cabassa was arrested for DUI with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) over 0.15. She was transported to the SPHIDF and released under pre-trial supervision.
In the early morning of Sunday, May 26, FCSO Communications received a call reporting a reckless driver. According to the caller, they were following a brown Nissan SUV on State Road A1A that had run a red light and was weaving. Deputy Barlotta and Deputy Marsan located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop after observing the vehicle crossing into oncoming traffic. The driver, Jason Horne, 53, of Palm Coast, failed a series of field sobriety tests. Upon a search of his person, deputies found a pill bottle containing multiple types of pills.
Horne was transported to the SPHIDF for further investigation. At the jail, it was discovered that this was Horne’s fourth DUI offense. Horne was arrested for DUI (4th Offense), three counts of Possession of a Legend Drug – Possession without a Prescription, and Refusal to Submit BAL. He is currently being held at the SPHIDF without bond.
Finally, on Sunday night, Corporal Green observed a gray Honda traveling northbound on Old Kings Road weaving in its lane. Cpl. Green then conducted a traffic stop and noticed the driver, Michael Pleasant, 28, of Palm Coast, had watery eyes and slurred speech. Pleasant was given a series of field sobriety exercises, which he failed. Pleasant was arrested for DUI with a Blood Alcohol Level over 0.15 and Driving While License Suspended with Knowledge. He was transported to the SPHIDF where he was released on a $1,500 bond.
“Before the holiday weekend, I warned the community that drunk drivers would be seeing some new bars in the Green Roof Inn,” said Sheriff Staly. “These people unfortunately missed the message or didn’t listen, so they had to spend part of their holiday weekend in jail.”
