The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office made 21 arrests between 6 p.m. Friday, May 29, and 6 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2026, handling 722 calls for service and conducting 149 traffic stops. Two incidents stood out from the weekend, one involving a serial shoplifter caught on surveillance video, and another that brought out the FCSO SWAT Team after an armed man threatened victims and fled into a neighbor’s home.
Three Lawnmowers and Over $4,100 Stolen From Lowe’s
On Friday afternoon, deputies arrested Peter Slusarz, 46, of Palm Coast after the asset protection team at Lowe’s in Palm Coast reported a series of shoplifting incidents and identified a possible suspect.
Working with store employees and reviewing surveillance footage, deputies identified Slusarz as the person seen leaving the store on three separate occasions without paying for merchandise. The video showed him walking out with multiple items each time. In total, he is reported to have stolen more than $4,100 worth of goods, including three lawnmowers, a carpet, three rugs, and other smaller items.
Deputies located Slusarz at his residence later that day and placed him under arrest. He was charged with retail theft of $750 or more and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on a $10,000 bond.
“This guy was either very bold, very stupid, or both to think he could steal not one, not two, but three lawnmowers,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This wasn’t his first trip to the Green Roof Inn, and it probably won’t be the last. Maybe he’d like to stay and be part of our inmate landscape work crew, where he’d be under the watchful eye of a detention deputy to make sure he doesn’t take off on our mower.”
Slusarz has a prior criminal history in Flagler County that includes previous arrests for domestic battery, DUI, and child neglect without great bodily harm.
Armed Man Threatens Victims, Flees — SWAT Called In
In the early hours of Monday morning, a domestic disturbance on Rolling Sands Drive in the R-Section of Palm Coast escalated into a multi-agency operation involving the FCSO SWAT Team, a crisis negotiator, a K-9 unit, a drone unit, and a helicopter from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called to the scene after a third party — alerted by one of the victims — called 911 to report that James Pudder Jr., 47, of Palm Coast was intoxicated, armed with a gun, and making threats inside the home. The caller reported two victims at the location, a man and a woman. The caller also said Pudder had smashed the female victim’s cellphone to prevent her from calling for help, but she managed to contact someone using another phone.
When deputies arrived, they found the female victim had escaped the house and was sitting in a vehicle in the driveway. The male victim was still inside. Deputies made contact with him through a window and removed him safely from the home.
Deputies then began making public address announcements ordering Pudder to come out. Given his criminal history, reported military background, and the likelihood that he was armed, FCSO’s SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Criminal Intelligence Unit, K-9 Unit, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit were all called to the scene. Volusia Sheriff’s Office’s Air One helicopter also responded to assist.
The SWAT Team cleared the home and found that Pudder had already fled. While searching the surrounding area, deputies noticed an open door at a house across the street. They contacted the homeowner, who confirmed Pudder was inside. He was taken into custody without further incident.
“I commend our team in finding and apprehending this violent and armed individual,” said Sheriff Staly. “This guy has a history of brandishing a weapon and making threats before. It seems clear that he has anger issues he needs to work on, and hopefully, he’s given a lengthy prison sentence to give him time to work on that.”
Pudder was arrested on seven charges: battery, two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, kidnapping, robbery by sudden snatching with a firearm, hindering communication to a law enforcement officer, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility without bond.
Pudder has a prior criminal history that includes previous arrests for burglary, assault, menacing, and DUI.
