Reckless Driver Faces Multiple Charges

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Palm Coast, FL - The Flagler County Sheriff's Office responded to a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) notification at 11:50 a.m. on Monday (January 13). A little more than 20 minutes later, they were arresting 27-year-old Elliot Watkins of North Carolina. 

Officers were looking for a stolen tan 2008 Ford Super Duty pickup truck from North Carolina. They spotted the truck driving north bound on Old Kings Road. A traffic stop was attempted and Watkins pulled into the Race Trac gas station on S.R. 100 and Old Kings Road, When he saw the deputies, he hit the gas, headed nothbound on Old Kings Road at speeds in excess of 70 mph.  Watkins then drove into oncoming traffic, onto sidewalks and crossed all lanes of traffic. He swerved in front of patrol cars, across Belle Terre Pkwy into oncoming traffic there, and jumped the center median. 

Watkins drove off the road, onto the grass, and under the power lines behind Emerson Drive. He then drove the utility access road  until he lost control of the truck, spun out, and then got out and ran away.

Deputies saw Watkins running across the golf course near East Hampton Boulevard and chased him on foot. He finally surrendered at gunpoint. Deputies questioned him. He gave a false name. When they checked his dirver's license, it was found to not be valid. When asked how he got the truck, Watkins told them that he had received the vehicle from a “friend” in exchange for “dope.”

“This is another great example of how the FCSO is committed to working with agencies everywhere to stop crime,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This guy has made a slew of bad decisions. One was stealing the car in the first place, another thinking he could hideout in Flagler County and lastly trying to hide from our deputies, who did an outstanding job apprehending this guy with no injuries to deputies or citizens. Crime stops in Flagler County and if you test us and run from FCSO you will only go to the
Green Roof Inn tired and in this case wet and muddy.”

Watkins is charged with two felonies, Grand Theft Auto and Fleeing and Eluding an LEO. He also has four misdemeanor charges, False Name Given to a LEO, Driving Without a License, Resisting Arrest, and Reckless Driving.  Watkins is in the Flagler County Jail, being held on a $27,500 bond.

crime, reckless driving, Palm Coast