A 50-year-old Palm Coast man is behind bars after deputies say he stabbed his roommate multiple times and then led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit before being stopped by the deployment of stop sticks.
On the evening of February 23, 2026, at approximately 6:45 p.m., the victim called the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center and reported that he had been stabbed at his home on Pier Lane in Palm Coast. The victim told the operator that his roommate, Jose Rafael Cortes Nieves, had stabbed him multiple times with a small black knife and then fled the scene in a red Honda CR-V.
Deputies quickly located the suspect’s vehicle near Belle Terre Boulevard and attempted a traffic stop. Cortes Nieves refused to stop and fled, repeatedly accelerating through red lights during the pursuit. Deputies deployed stop sticks, which successfully ended the chase, and Cortes Nieves was taken into custody without further incident. Deputies located a black knife inside the vehicle that matched the description provided by the victim.
During an interview following his arrest, Cortes Nieves admitted to stabbing the victim and said he wanted to apologize. He told investigators that even if he claimed he was defending himself, the stabbing was an excessive response and could have killed the victim. Cortes Nieves said he fled from deputies because he felt his “life would be over” if he went to jail. Investigators collected evidence from the scene, including security footage obtained from a nearby residence.
“Cortes Nieves turned to extreme violence over a minor money dispute with his roommate. He then put others at risk by recklessly fleeing from law enforcement,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our deputies acted quickly to stop this dangerous suspect and take him into custody before anyone else was hurt.”
Cortes Nieves was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement at high speed. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on $150,000 bond. Cortes Nieves has previous convictions in Connecticut for possession of narcotics, larceny, and failure to appear.
The victim was transported to an area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
