Bunnell, FL - An investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) into the February 2019 death of 23-year-old Anthony Fennick finds that no crime was committed. That's according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO).
Fennick suffered a medical episode on February 4, 2019 and was transported to the hospital. He passed away at the hospital on February 9, 2019.
FCSO conducted a complete and comprehensive criminal investigation into the death and found no evidence of any crime. Sheriff Rick Staly insisted on an independent investigation by FDLE. The Sheriff's Office received the completed investigation report from FDLE on June 19, 2020, which also found no evidence of a crime. The criminal investigation is now in the hands of the State Attorney's Office.
Sheriff Staly also asked the Medical Examiner and an outside physician to conduct investigations into Fennick's death and their results was the same as FCSO and FDLE - no evidence of a crime was found.
With the criminal investigation complete, FCSO is now conducting a professional standards internal investigation which focuses on any potential administrative or policy issue involving any FCSO employee.
“We have been open and transparent throughout this process and we will continue to be,” Sheriff Staly said. “We grieve with the Fennick family who has experienced a terrible tragedy.”
On February 22, 2019, Sheriff Staly made significant changes at the jail, including the termination of the contract with the previous medical services provider and replacing them with Southern Medical Correctional. Policy and procedural changes have also been put in place to ensure consistent quality medical care of the inmates at the county jail and in order to keep families of inmates continuously informed of the health of their loved ones while in jail.
