By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
Mother, Grandmother, and Child Arrested on Black Friday for Shoplifting; Group Arrested After Burglary and Aggravated Assault
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies made 20 arrests over the long holiday weekend between 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, and 6 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024. Deputies handled 1,008 calls for service and made 283 traffic stops.
Family Arrested for Shoplifting on Black Friday
On Friday, November 29, two females were arrested after deputies responded to a reported shoplifting in progress at Target in Palm Coast.
Before deputies’ arrival, a Target loss prevention specialist had taken a juvenile female into custody. The employee had observed the juvenile female placing cosmetic products into her backpack. Additionally, two adult females, later identified as the juvenile’s mother, Ylena Regul, 54, and grandmother, Tamara Keetley, 76, had placed multiple bottles of wine and champagne into the juvenile’s backpack. She then bypassed all points of sale and attempted to exit the store, at which point she was approached by the store employee and escorted to the loss prevention office.
At the same time, Regul and Keetley were observed concealing more bottles of wine and champagne into bags. Regul then exited the store with the concealed merchandise and walked to her vehicle in the parking lot, while Keetley entered the restroom in the front of the store. A short time later, Keetley exited the store and joined Regul in the parking lot.
Deputies located Regul directly outside the doors of the store advised her that her daughter was in custody and escorted her to the loss prevention office. Deputies then quickly located Keetley in the parking lot near her vehicle with a shopping cart containing merchandise from the store and also escorted her to the loss prevention office.
Once all three subjects were in custody, it was determined that they had attempted to steal $379.55 worth of cosmetics and alcoholic beverages.
Regul and Keetley were arrested for Shoplifting – Petit Theft and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child, and they were transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. Both were later released after posting a $650 bond. The juvenile was turned over to the custody of her father.
Ylena Regul, Tamara Keetley (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility)
“This mother and grandmother certainly won’t win mother and grandmother of the year,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “We told our community that we would have an increased presence protecting our businesses and shoppers on Black Friday, but unfortunately, this family didn’t listen, so they ended up at the Green Roof Inn. In addition to stealing, they involved a child in their criminal acts, which is a shameful thing for a mother and grandmother to do.”
Three Females Arrested Following Break-in, Physical Altercation with Pregnant Woman
Over the weekend, three females were arrested for a residential burglary that had occurred Saturday night.
On the night of November 30, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Cherry Lane in Bunnell after a reported physical disturbance. According to one of the victims, she heard a loud bang, and then three females, two of whom were juveniles, entered her residence. The victim stated the three females were irate and confronted her about a cell phone. One of the females, whom the victim recognized as Cassandra Wilkes, 20, of Bunnell, then punched the victim, who is pregnant, in the face below her left eye. After the victim struck Wilkes back, a male victim who had heard the commotion from another room, came to her defense, the three females fled the residence in a white sedan. Deputies attempted to locate Wilkes that night but were unable to do so.
The next day, Wilkes was located at her residence. Wilkes denied any involvement, stating that she was on probation and had a 9 p.m. curfew, which prohibited her from leaving her residence. However, she was unable to provide any evidence that she was at home during the incident, and others in the home stated that they did not see her at home that night.
Wilkes was arrested for Burglary with Assault or Battery and Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person. She was also arrested for Violation of Probation for committing a crime during her probation and violation of her special condition curfew hours. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she is being held without bond.
Cassandra Wilkes (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility)
Before Wilkes’ arrest, deputies had located and interviewed the two juveniles, who were 15 and 17 years old. Initially, the interviews were solely to gather information on Wilkes, who was the primary suspect. Both juveniles denied that they were with Wilkes and stated they were unaware of any incident occurring at the residence on Cherry Lane.
After Wilkes was arrested, deputies returned to the residence and interviewed the two juveniles again based on new evidence they had received. Upon being interviewed again, the juveniles recanted their earlier statements and acknowledged they were present with Wilkes during the incident. Both juveniles were arrested for Accessory After the Fact to Burglary with Assault or Battery and Accessory After the Fact to Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person. They were transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where they were processed and turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
“This group of girls broke into someone’s home and one of them punched a pregnant woman, all because of a misunderstanding about a cell phone, which the victim did not have,” said Sheriff Staly. “I commend our deputies for conducting a thorough investigation and making sure all three suspects were found and can be held responsible.”
