Flagler County Sheriff’s Weekend Roundup: April 19-20 Easter Weekend

By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies made 22 arrests this past weekend between 6 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, and 6 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025. Deputies handled 617 calls for service and made 190 traffic stops.

Man Arrested for DUI, Narcotics Possession After Deputies Find Him Passed Out Behind Wheel

On Friday, deputies responded to a report of a male passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the parking lot of Subway in Palm Coast. After determining the male, later identified as John Perez, 37, of Palm Coast, was not having a medical episode, deputies conducted a DUI investigation. Following the investigation, deputies arrested Perez for DUI.

While searching Perez’s vehicle after his arrest, deputies found multiple needles in the back seat, including one with a brown liquid in the syringe. The liquid tested positive for heroin.

When deputies searched Perez, he stated that he did not have any narcotics, weapons, or anything of note on his person. However, during a more thorough search at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, detention deputies found a white pill in his sock. The pill was identified as lorazepam, a Schedule IV substance.

“Bringing drugs or anything illegal into the Green Roof Inn will earn you another felony arrest on top of the charges that brought you to jail in the first place,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Unfortunately for this guy, he either tried to lie to deputies or forgot about the pill in his sock. Regardless of the reason, let this be a lesson that bringing drugs into the jail will not be tolerated and our detention deputies will always find them.”

In addition to the DUI charge, deputies arrested Perez for Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Introduction of Contraband into a Correctional Institution, and Possession of a Harmful New Legend Drug without a Prescription. He is being held on a $4,500 bond.

John Perez (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mugshot)

View bodycam footage from the encounter.

Habitual Traffic Offender Arrested After Crashing While Fleeing from Deputies

In the early morning hours on Saturday, deputies patrolling East Moody Boulevard in Bunnell observed a vehicle that did not stop at the stop sign before turning out of the Circle K gas station. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. At the intersection of State Road 100 and Seminole Woods Parkway, the vehicle drove through a red light, almost striking another vehicle. At one point, deputies estimated the vehicle to be traveling at over 100 mph in a 50-mph zone.

As the vehicle tried to enter Interstate 95, the driver, later identified as Christopher Boone, 30, of Deltona, Florida, was unable to make the turn and crashed into a light pole along the on-ramp. After the crash, Boone exited the vehicle and began fleeing on foot. A nearby Florida Highway Patrol trooper and deputies quickly apprehended Boone.

After securing him, deputies determined that Boone was a habitual traffic offender with no Florida driver’s license and multiple active suspensions.

Deputies arrested Boone for Driving While License Suspended (Habitual), Resisting an Officer without Violence, and Reckless Driving. In addition, he is facing charges from FHP for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.

“This guy is a habitual traffic offender with no valid license, yet he continues to endanger other drivers,” said Sheriff Staly. “I’m glad the only car that was damaged was his, nobody was injured or killed by his reckless driving, and this ended with him being taken to the Green Roof Inn where he belongs.”

Due to the crash, Boone was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Once cleared, he was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on a $15,500 bond.

Boone is familiar to law enforcement, with previous arrests for charges including grand theft and possession of cocaine.