Deltona, FL – An 18-year-old felon, who was injured in a Deltona shooting last month, was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation of the shooting uncovered pictures of the man holding two firearms.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), 18-year-old Stevie Knight was shot near Fort Smith and India Boulevards on October 23. Knight was transported to a hospital via Air One with gunshot wounds to his arm and shoulder. During the course of the investigation of the shooting, deputies found pictures of Knight holding an AR-15 rifle and a revolver.

VCSO later uncovered a magazine for an AR-15 rifle, loaded with nine Remington .223 caliber bullets, in the Ford Focus that Knight had been driving. Deputies also searched Knight’s home, but they found no firearms there. Because Knight was deemed a “juvenile delinquent” from a former felony arrest as a juvenile, he is not allowed to own any firearms or ammunition.

Knight was arrested on Wednesday for possession of a weapon and ammunition by a felon. He was held on a $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing, according to VCSO, and additional arrests are possible.

(Knight’s mugshot courtesy Volusia County Jail)

You can find earlier reporting on this story here.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – A new chairman and vice chairman have been elected to the Volusia County School Board.

During an organizational meeting on November 14, Mrs. Linda Cuthbert and Dr. John Hill were elected as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. The 2018 meeting dates for the Volusia County School Board were also tentatively set.

Regular board meetings are set for the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 PM except for March, July, and December, which only have 1 meeting. The meetings will be held at the DeLand Administrative Complex, located at 200 N. Clara Ave. All meeting times are subject to change.

(Chart courtesy of Volusia County Schools)

Photo courtesy of Khakimullin Aleksandr and Shutterstock.com.

Daytona Beach, FL – In Wednesday night’s meeting, the Daytona Beach City Commission unanimously voted to spend $1 million to renovate the Bandshell.

$998,891.77 will go towards to interior and exterior renovation of the Historic Bandshell. The funding will be pulled from the Main Street Redevelopment Fund ($180,321), the Grant Projects Fund ($468,570.77), and the Capital Projects Fund ($350,000). According to the City, the last time the interior was renovated was over 50 years ago.

The Bandshell’s electrical, plumbing, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) are currently not up to code. The renovations would target these areas as well as architectural changes, painting, and new flooring.

The City recognizes that the $1 million cost of the project is due to the materials needed to bring the structure up-to-code. The renovation requires corrosion resistant stainless steel and external fixtures due to the ocean environment as well as a 10-year warranty on supplies for potential rusting or other damages. General Mechanical Corporation will complete the renovations, as they were the lowest responsible bidder.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – On Thursday, the Volusia County Council unanimously approved an increase in daily beach pass fees from $10 to $20 for 2018 and approved an amended $930,337.09 contract for beach toll services.

The Council anticipates that the higher daily beach pass rates would bring in an increase of approximately $4 million in revenue, which will go back to the beaches for ramps, toll workers, and litter collection services. The County will be able to use $4 from the sale of each daily and annual beach pass solely for capital beach improvements. The new fees would go into effect January 1.

“This will allow us to open up more beach ramps, more access for our citizens; so that’s what the purpose of this is and to keep the beach cleaner and just make the whole quality of the beach just very solid,” explained Council member Deborah Denys.

Along with the higher beach access rates, the period of free beach access for residents during December and January will be eliminated. Additionally, full-time college students from Bethune-Cookman, Embry-Riddle, and Stetson University will be able to purchase annual beach access passes for $25, the same rate as for Volusia County residents. Daytona State College (DSC) was not included in the group of colleges since the college does not have dormitories, and many DSC students have local residences, according to County staff.

Volusia County residents will still pay $25 for annual passes, and if they buy a daily pass instead of an annual pass, they will be able to apply that fee toward the annual pass as long as they keep the receipt. The beach pass fee for non-residents is $100.

“I do think that the annual people do understand this is a good value, but I can see where somebody would be upset with themselves if they paid $20 for something for one day when they could have spent $25 for the year, so we’re gonna try to take care of that,” says County Manager Jim Dinneen. He adds that there will be heightened opportunities to buy beach passes during the peak season and more information about the fees put out to the public.

The bulk of the money from the beach passes will go toward new beach access ramps. The County already approved the opening of seven additional ramps for area beaches last month, and the new ramps should be completely open by next Spring. “Regardless of the traffic we get, we are going to allow these ramps to be open the whole season, so that we get the information, so if you ever want to modify (the ramps), we’ll know how they’re being used,” said Dinneen.

The Council also approved an amended contract for beach toll collection services. In October of 2015, the Council approved a bid for toll collection services to Faneuil Inc. The newly approved, amended contract will extend the agreement with Faneuil through September 30, 2022, as opposed to September 30, 2020. The contract may be renewed for up to three years after that.

The cost of this amended toll services contract is $195,604.13 for a one-time start-up cost and $734,732.96 in annual fees. The cost includes 7 additional year-round beach toll booths, 33 additional peak season booths, and 12 additional off-season booths.

For earlier reporting on this story, click here.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – The Volusia County Council approved a measure on Thursday supporting “Ponce’s Law,” which would impose stricter penalties for those charged with animal abuse.

“Ponce’s Law,” also known as State House Bill 473, was co-sponsored by State Representatives Tom Leek and Jason Brodeur. It was named after a dog named Ponce, who was brutally beaten to death in Ponce Inlet earlier this year. The purpose of the bill, if it becomes law, would be to change the classification of aggravated animal abuse from a Level 3 third-degree felony to a Level 5 third-degree felony.

“Sadly, the way the law is now, criminals who commit these violent crimes against animals often get off with minimal penalties, a slap on the wrist, or probation. They’re basically failing to pay their debt to society,” Ponce Inlet Police Chief Frank Fabrizio told the Council. He urged the Council to support “Ponce’s Law.”

Fabrizio said that currently, it is very difficult for judges to sentence those convicted of animal cruelty to any prison time. “Ponce’s Law” would give prosecutors and judges a greater possibility of sentencing those convicted of animal cruelty to prison. “Ponce’s Law” would also give the courts the leverage to ban violators from owning or having contact with animals.

The Council unanimously approved the motion to support the bill. “We protect our homeless. We protect our elderly. It’s time someone spoke up for our pets,” said Council member Billie Wheeler.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Deltona, FL – A 75-year-old Deltona man was taken into protective custody on Wednesday night after he went onto his neighbor’s property and fired several shots into the ground and the air.

In a social media post, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said they believe the man was experiencing a mental health episode. He was safely taken into custody, and according to VCSO, no one was injured during the incident.

The man has been placed in protective custody and will be given a mental health evaluation. Traffic on Holand Boulevard in Deltona was shut down for a short time near where the shooting occurred.

Video of the incident can be seen on the VCSO Facebook page.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Ormond Beach, FL – Three people are behind bars after a chainsaw was stolen out of the garage of an Ormond Beach home.

The victim, who lives on Emerald Oaks Lane, told the Ormond Beach Police Department that at around 4:30 PM on Wednesday, November 15, they saw a beat up, older white Chevy Impala stop in her driveway. A few minutes later a witness told her that a man got out of the Impala, ran into her open garage, and stole a chainsaw. The victim then called 911 and gave dispatchers a description of the suspect vehicle.

A short time later, police officers spotted a vehicle matching the description heading north on US-1. The Impala stopped in the McDonald’s parking lot at 1520 N US-1, and three occupants went into the restaurant. Ormond Beach Police Officers and two Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputies found and arrested William D. Belden, Morgan B. Esau, and Harley M. Goodwin. The victim and witness were both able to positively ID the vehicle, the suspects, and the chainsaw.

Belden, 32, and Esau, 39, were arrested and charged with principal to unarmed burglary to an occupied dwelling. Goodwin, 28, who went into the garage, was arrested and is facing several charges, including unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling and providing a false name to law enforcement.

(William D. Belden)

(Morgan B. Esau)

(Harley M. Goodwin)

Mugshots courtesy the Volusia County Jail.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Holly Hill, FL – Police in Holly Hill are investigating a drug deal gone bad that left a woman with a gunshot wound.

Police responded to a home on Elsie Ave. in Holly Hill at 9:08 AM on Friday morning after getting a call about a gunshot injury. When they got to the scene, they found a 32-year-old woman who said she had been shot by a black man outside of her home after a failed drug transaction. The victim told police that after she was shot she went back into her house and the suspect fled the area in a white or silver vehicle. She said he was heading north towards 6th St.

The victim’s injury is considered non-life threatening and she was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The victim described the suspect as a black man between 18 and 20 years old. She said he had a short cropped Mohawk haircut and a light mustache.

Police are still investigating the incident and officials say additional information will be released when it becomes available.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL-Votran will operate on a limited service schedule Thursday, Nov. 23.
Riders are encouraged to plan their travel in advance to avoid possible
travel conflicts.

● West Volusia routes 22, 24 and 60 will not operate. Connecting SunRail Routes 30, 31, 32 and 33 will not operate, as there will be no SunRail service.
● Route 20 will operate every two hours. The bus leaves Walmart on the odd hour between 7:19 a.m. and 5:19 p.m.  The northbound trips leave the Orange City Marketplace on the even hour between 8:25 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. Routes 21 and 23 will operate on a Saturday schedule.
● Route 21 will operate every two hours. The westbound trips leave Walmart in Osteen on the odd hours between 7:19 a.m. and 5:19 p.m. The eastbound trips leave the Orange City Marketplace on the even hours between  8:25 a.m. and 6:25 p.m.
● Eastside routes 1, 3, 4, 10, 15 and 17 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
● Buses will operate out of the Intermodal Transfer Facility at the Ocean Center, not the Transfer Plaza.
● Routes 40 and 41 will operate every two hours. The first Route 40 southbound trip will depart Dunlawton Avenue and U.S. 1 at 6:30 a.m. Northbound trips will depart Julia and Sams Transfer Point every two hours beginning at 7:46 a.m. through 5:46 p.m.  Since there will be no buses on Swallowtail Drive for Route 40 to transfer passengers, the Route 40 will meet the Route 4 and 17 at Dunlawton Avenue and Orange Avenue to transfer passengers going north on US1 and A1A. Route 41 southbound trips will depart Julia and Sams every two hours from 6:46 a.m. through 4:46 p.m. Votran will now serve 10th St. and turn around at the entrance to Daytona State College. The 2:46 p.m. trip departing Julia Street and Sam’s Avenue Transfer Point will be the only trip serving Oak Hill.
● All other routes and New Smyrna Beach Flex Service will not operate.
● For Votran Gold service changes, contact a reservationist or Votran customer service.

Votran riders are encouraged to visit votran.org  and click the “Join” button at the bottom of the homepage to receive timely notices about bus service changes. The website also provides up-to-date alerts and real-time bus information.

Photo courtesy Volusia.org.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017

Holly Hill, FL – A Holly Hill woman was arrested after being accused of stabbing her boyfriend in the face while she had her young daughter with her.

According to official reports, police responded to 617 Florida Ave. in Holly Hill at around 1:45 AM Thursday. Michael Perdue told police that his live-in girlfriend, 30-year-old Rachael Ann Bookey, had stabbed him with a knife after an argument and then took off running down the street, along with her daughter. Perdue also suffered several bruises to the face and what appeared to be a bite mark on his back.

Police found Bookey at 636 Florida Ave. clutching her young daughter in one arm and carrying several knives in the other. Police reports say she was hiding in the backyard of the home. Bookey dropped the knives and was taken into custody. The Department of Children and Families was contacted.

At Bookey and Perdue’s home, officials were able to locate a knife and a flashlight with blood on both items. Perdue told police that Bookey had initially used the flashlight as a weapon before stabbing him. According to reports, Perdue provided police an audio statement but did not wish to press charges.

(Bookey’s mugshot courtesy Volusia County Jail)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Daytona Beach, FL – Jackie Robinson Ballpark announced during a Thursday press conference that it is becoming tobacco-free.

From now on, attendees, employees, and athletes will not be allowed to be allowed to use tobacco products at the facility. The State of Florida and Tobacco Free Florida is sponsoring the new rule. The announcement was made as part of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout campaign.

The following quotes are from speakers at the press conference:

Ryan Keur, President of the Tortugas:

• “This is a step in the right direction. As the only professional sports team here in Volusia County, here in Flagler County, it’s our commitment to our community to be more than just a baseball team, but to be role models. And to use the platform that we’ve been giving with historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark to make a difference every single day.”
• “Here in 2017 we will welcome about 175,000 people to this ballpark over the course of Daytona Tortugas games, Bethune Cookman games, concerts, charity runs, you name it. In 2018, we’re looking to host a quarter of a million people. We want to have 250,000 people walk through these gates and every single one of them will walk through tobacco-free. That’s something we’re really excited about. I think we’re moving in the right direction and we cannot thank you enough for the support.”
• “This will help continue this great ballpark, which has been around for so long and continue, each and every year, to get better and better. That doesn’t always happen in places when you have 100-year-old ballparks, that it continues to get better each and every year. This is something, with healthy environments, that we look to do each and every day.”

Derrick Henry, Mayor of Daytona Beach:

• “Sincerely, on behalf of the residents of Daytona Beach, I’d like to thank the Tortugas for showing leadership. Each community thrives on great leadership from its corporate partners and those who make things happen. And I can’t think of a better, more fitting form of leadership than to go smoke-free in a facility that pays homage to one of America’s great athletes in Jackie Robinson.”
• “[The Tortugas are] our only professional sports team. So it’s a place where we come together as a community and our young people have to come here. And we are setting the example that we would like to see them take hold of. So I really want to say thank you.”

Dr. Diana Lee, Chairperson of the Tobacco Free Volusia County Partnership and Director of Bethune-Cookman University’s Odessa Chambliss Center for Health Equity:

• “This is tremendous progress for our Volusia County. To be able to have a place like this, and to have the Daytona Tortugas support our community and our partnership, it really is a blessing.”

Kristen Mialki, from the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County:

• “Thank you very much for being part of this and thank you for the support you provide in making our community a healthier place.”

Amanda Hoch, One Voice Volusia’s Outreach Coordinator:

• “The biggest thing I want to share: Over the last three years, through our Friday Night Done Right activities, over 3,000 at-risk youths have attended sponsored events here at this park.”
• “Over 600 kids were actually fed here, in this very pavilion. They got to meet Shelldon, they got to meet the baseball players that would come and walk around. And to hear them at their tables saying “I want to do that when I grow up” and “I want to stay healthy”, you know, they’re excited about taking pictures with Sheriff Chitwood. Those kinds of things are memorable here at this park.”

Photo courtesy Blulz60 and Shutterstock.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Daytona Beach, FL – Several VIPs rappelled down the 8-story International Motorsports Center in Daytona Beach on Thursday to raise money for the “Over the Edge At ONE DAYTONA” fundraising campaign.

Hosted by the NASCAR Foundation and Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, the fundraising campaign will go on for three consecutive days. Lesa France Kennedy, International Speedway Corporation CEO/NASCAR Vice Chairperson, and Rusty Wallace, former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, were the first to rappel down the 102-foot building.

(Photo of Rusty Wallace and Lesa France Kennedy courtesy of Daytona International Speedway)

Through Saturday, many more donors will take their turns at rappelling down the International Motorsports Center. Footage of the first day can be found here. The donations to the NASCAR Foundation and Easterseals Northeast Central Florida are expected to surpass $150,000.

More information about “Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA” can be found here and here.

Photo courtesy of Daytona International Speedway.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – Volusia County is one of ten Florida areas that will be awarded BearWise Funding in order to purchase bear-resistant trash cans, dumpsters, and other equipment for residents at a discounted cost, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The FWC has awarded ten communities that applied for the BearWise funding a total of $515,283. The funding addresses the issue of black bears entering neighborhoods due to unsecured trash. Volusia County will get $75,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for the County’s west side. Below is a breakdown of the ten areas awarded the funding, according to the FWC:

• Seminole County – $189,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the western portion of Seminole County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
• Lake County – $85,508 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in Lake County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
• Volusia County – $75,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the western portion of Volusia County.
• Holley by the Sea Improvement Association – $65,000 to purchase hardware to modify all 3,700 trash cans to make them bear-resistant in the Holley by the Sea Improvement Association, located in the southern portion of Santa Rosa County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
• Highlands County – $48,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the central portion of the Highlands County.
• Orange County – $20,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the northwestern portion of Orange County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
• Walton County – $18,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for Walton County parks and to modify dumpsters to make them bear-resistant.
• Air Force Enlisted Village – $7,700 to modify dumpsters to make them bear-resistant in this community in Okaloosa County.
• Collier County Parks and Recreation – $3,675 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for three Collier County parks.
• Franklin County – $3,400 to purchase hardware to modify regular trash cans to make them bear-resistant for residents in the southern portion of Franklin County.

This year, the Florida Legislature and Governor Rick Scott provided $415,283 to the FWC to cost-share with local governments in areas with high levels of human-bear conflicts. At least 60% of that money must go to communities with ordinances requiring trash be kept secure from bears. The FWC also received funding from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, which provided an additional $100,000 in proceeds from the Conserve Wildlife license plate.

Below are the criteria that the FWC used to evaluate the BearWise funding applications:

• Does the community have an ordinance requiring residents and businesses to keep trash and other attractants secure from bears?
• How many households within the community are in an area with significant human-bear conflicts, and how many residences and businesses are expected to benefit?
• How much in matching funds or in-kind services can the community provide?
• What is the likelihood the project will result in a community-wide reduction of human-bear conflicts?

You can find out more information on FWC and black bears by visiting MyFWC.com/Bear and clicking on “Live BearWise.” You can also find a BearWise video here.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

DeLand, FL – Update: DeLand Police have arrested the man suspected of robbing a DeLand Taco Bell and spraying an employee with chemical spray after he confessed to the crime after being arrested for robbing another Taco Bell in Palm Coast.

37-year-old Jason Klokow was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with a Palm Coast Taco Bell robbery. He then confessed to the DeLand robbery. Klokow was thought to have acted alone in the DeLand incident, and there are no further arrests expected, according to DeLand Police.

(Klokow’s mugshot courtesy Volusia County Jail)

Earlier Reporting:

DeLand Police are looking for the man who reportedly robbed a DeLand Taco Bell and sprayed an employee with a chemical spray.

Police responded to the Taco Bell at 1501 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand just after 1:30 AM on Tuesday. Employees reported that a white man in his 30’s pulled up to the drive-through window and handed an employee, Jo Ann Escamilla, a note with writing on both sides. Police reports say that after receiving the note, Escamilla handed the suspect the cash drawer. The man then sprayed Escamilla with a chemical spray.

Escamilla was treated at the scene for chemical contamination and then transported to Florida Hospital DeLand to be treated, according to police reports.

A store manager, Samantha Skinner, reported that she saw the incident occur and that she believed the suspect was driving a Honda with the tag removed. She ran to the front of the store to try to keep track of the vehicle and stated that she saw the vehicle drive off east on E. International Speedway. The suspect made off with an undisclosed amount of cash in the cash drawer.

Photo courtesy Susan Montgomery and Shutterstock.com

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

New Smyrna Beach, FL – The City of Edgewater will hold a grand opening for the new Dale Ave. Shared Use Non-motorized (SUN) Trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday at Daytona State College (DSC) in New Smyrna Beach.

The ceremony will take place at 9 AM Saturday, November 18 at the New Smyrna branch of the college, located at 940 10th Street to celebrate the completion of the first trail segment constructed with SUN Trail funds in the State of Florida.

The trail is a 12-foot wide, paved, multi-use path which extends the East Central Regional Rail Trail from the intersection of Park Ave. and Dale Ave., north to 10th Street near the main entrance of Daytona State College’s New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus. The project forms a portion of the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop, a 260-mile long regional trail system, which spans five counties.

“The opening of this trail is the result of determination and visionary leadership that will expand the use and enjoyment of our interconnected trail system,” explains Volusia County Council Vice Chair and River to Sea TPO Chair Deb Denys. The trail is a result of a partnership between the City of Edgewater, the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Volusia County, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

The Florida SUN Trail Program was established by the State legislature in 2015 by allocating $25 million per year for the development of a statewide trail system. The trail will provide not only recreational opportunities, but also transportation avenues for students at DSC New Smyrna, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, and New Smyrna Beach High School.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Pierson, FL – The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) is searching for a man who robbed a Pierson pharmacy on Friday night.

At around 6:23 PM on Friday, VCSO deputies arrived at the Pierson Community Pharmacy, located at 112 E. 1st Ave. The pharmacist and two employees were there at the time of the robbery. The pharmacist said they were robbed by an unknown male with a gun in his waistband.

Security footage shows the pharmacist walking the suspect to a safe. You can watch the security footage here. The man was able to get away with pill bottles and cash. No one was injured during the robbery.

(Security footage still courtesy of the VCSO)

The suspect is a black male, seeming to be in his 20s. He was wearing a grey hoodie, camouflage cargo pants, dark gloves, white shoes, and sunglasses. If you recognize the man or if you have any relevant information, you are asked to contact the VCSO or call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS. Calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and may qualify you for an award up to $5,000.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Palm Coast, FL – A crash on I-95 near Palm Coast Parkway in Flagler County has left a 10-year-old girl dead, and 3 others seriously injured.

At around 6:30 PM on Friday, 31-year-old Thomas Rando of Palm Coast was driving a Ford F150 southbound on the I-95 onramp from Palm Coast Parkway. Rando said that he believed he may have struck an object on the road which caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

The truck crossed 3 lanes of southbound I-95 traffic before it hit the center guardrail and flipped. 37-year-old Nichole Beard and an 11-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl, who both share her last name, were passengers in the vehicle. The 10-year-old girl died at the scene and Rando, Beard and the 11-year-old boy were taken to Halifax Health Hospital in serious condition.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. It is unknown if alcohol was a factor. According to the crash report, there were no seatbelts or restraints used.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

DeBary, FL – A 19-year-old Deltona woman died in a single-vehicle rollover crash early Sunday morning in DeBary, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO).

Deputies responded to the scene of the crash just after 1:10 AM Sunday morning at 475 S. Shell Rd. in DeBary. 19-year-old Tori Lynn Otway was pronounced dead at the scene by Orange City Fire Rescue after the white 2003 Ford Escape SUV that she was driving flipped over, and she was ejected.

Otway lived in Deltona but was leaving a friend’s house on Monroe Ave. in DeBary, according to VCSO. Otway traveled west on Benson Junction and turned onto South Shell Rd. northbound. The SUV left the roadway, struck a curb, and re-entered the roadway. The SUV then crossed the road, flipped onto its side, then rolled onto its roof in a parking area at 475 S. Shell Rd. The SUV rolled over and landed on the passenger’s side. Otway was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, according to VCSO.

South Shell Rd. was closed for nine hours while the crash was being investigated. VCSO says the cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Palm Coast, FL – A Palm Coast man was hospitalized with critical injuries after the motorcycle he was driving overturned in Palm Coast on Sunday afternoon, according to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

45-year-old Henry Figueora was traveling northbound on Seminole Woods Blvd. near Sesame Blvd. in Palm Coast at around 3:31 PM Sunday. He was driving a 1997 Harley Davidson motorcycle, which veered off the roadway and overturned onto a sidewalk, says FHP. Figueora was flown to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach with critical injuries.

Figueora was not wearing a helmet, and it is unknown whether alcohol was a factor in the crash. His next-of-kin has been notified.

Photo courtesy Anna Om and Shutterstock.com

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Flagler County, FL – The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) says that all of its deputies will now be equipped with Narcan medicine kits, which can reduce the effects of an opioid overdose.

According to FCSO, Narcan, or Naloxone, is a prescription medication which can help reverse the effects of opioids by blocking opioids in the brain for 30 to 90 minutes. In response to an increase in opioid-related deaths in Florida, FCSO applied for a Naloxone Kit Grant through the Florida Sheriffs Association several months ago. That grant was recently approved.

There are two Narcan nasal spray packets per package, so deputies will carry two doses on them at all times. “We just got the kits a couple of weeks ago, so they are starting to distribute them to deputies now. Deputies must go through training. Once the deputies are trained to administer the Narcan, then they will be issued the kits to carry on them,” says Brittany Kershaw, Public Affairs Officer for FCSO.

In cases of suspected opioid abuse, Narcan can be used by deputies to treat the effects of opioids like heroin, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, morphine, codeine, opium, hydrocodone, and name-brand drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin, and Demerol. The newly administered Narcan kits will allow FCSO deputies to respond more quickly in these types of cases before medical personnel arrives.

“There has been great success throughout Florida with the use of Narcan in saving the lives of people who have overdosed,” says Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “We must find a way to end the opioid deaths in our communities. Law enforcement is often the first to arrive on scene, so having our deputies equipped with this life-saving medication is imperative.”

Photo of Narcan kit courtesy FCSO

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.