- December 15, 2025
Officer Austin Chewning saw a familiar face, 21-year-old Palm Coast resident and former football teammate Ricky Harper, driving through Bunnell on April 7. The problem was, Harper had no driver’s license. The confrontation that followed led to multiple arrests and two uses of a Taser.
Chewning reported that he checked the computer database to confirm that Harper did not have a license. He then found Harper on South Chapel Street and told Harper he had seen him driving.
Another officer arrived as backup, as Harper became irate and started pacing. Harper refused to take a seat on the bumper of Chewning’s vehicle, and then he was placed under arrest.
In a search of the vehicle, the officers located prescription pills. At that point, Harper told a woman nearby, “Baby, I’m about to go to jail. Found Roxies on me, man.” Harper then attempted to flee and pushed the officer. The report states: “During the tussle, Mr. Harper was taken to the ground.”
Harper was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility. He said he had no drugs or weapons on his person, but a search revealed a small baggie of marijuana and five grams of cocaine. He was charged with resisting an officer with violence, possession of oxycodone and bringing drugs into the jail.
In the incident that day, a crowd of 25 to 40 formed at the Flagler County Housing Authority. Another man, Charles Lunard, ran toward an officer, and an officer used his Taser on him, temporarily incapacitating him. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was then called for backup.
Another man, identified only as Mr. Phillips in the police report, attempted to help Harper escape. The report states that Phillips was told to back up. The officer pulled out his Taser “as Mr. Phillips backed up slightly and then came forward a moment later.” The officer wrote: “I then deployed my Taser, striking Mr. Phillips in the back.” An ambulance was ultimately called for Phillips, who was then cleared and transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility.
Jerold Burnham, 18, was also suspected of attempting to help Harper escape from the back of the police car. The next day, an officer approached him. After appearing to reach for something in his pants, Burnham was handcuffed and searched, and officers discovered marijuana rolled up in dollar bills in his pants. Burnham was arrested and charged with aiding escape, and possession of cannabis under 20 grams.
