- April 25, 2024
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A 14-year-old boy was arrested by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies early Friday morning and charged with Written Threats to Kill, a felony.
The parent of a 13-year-old boy had contacted the FCSO after the suspect made numerous threats through social media to kill the victim after school regarding an argument on Instagram.
"Florida law is very strict, and there is no discretion for law enforcement. We have a zero tolerance policy for threats in Flagler County.”
— RICK STALY, Flagler County sheriff
Deputies were able to track the social media account to the 14-year-old suspect. Deputies responded to his residence on Rosecroft Lane in Palm Coast and spoke with the suspect and his parents.
The suspect admitted to sending the messages to the victim but claimed it was only out of anger and that he did not intend to carry out the threat.
“We take all threats seriously, and if you make a threat — whether verbally, in writing, or through social media — it will be investigated, and you will be arrested,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Cell phones and social media are a part of every child’s life these days and it is more important than ever for parents to pay attention to what their children are doing online. Let them know that if they make the wrong choice, say, write or post threats, they will face serious consequences. Florida law is very strict, and there is no discretion for law enforcement. We have a zero tolerance policy for threats in Flagler County.”
The suspect was processed at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and then turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona Beach, which released the boy to his mother.
The threats were made directly to the victim via a social media platform. There were no threats to the schools or to any other students.
The FCSO is asking for all parents to become more involved in what their children are doing online. Above is a chart of the top 23 mobile apps that parents should be aware of and monitoring. In addition to being aware of the applications your children utilize, the FCSO would also like to familiarize parents with parental control apps that can assist in monitoring online activity. A few parental control apps that may be considered include Bark, Net Nanny, and Securly. These applications are available on both Android and Apple devices.
Remember that if you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911 or by emailing [email protected]. You may also contact CrimeStoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the FCSO Mobile application. You may also send tips through FortifyFL.
