- April 25, 2024
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By: Brittany Kershaw
Public Affairs Manager, Flagler County Sheriff's Office
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle with a stolen tag in the Target parking lot around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. The vehicle was occupied by two subjects. A deputy approached the vehicle and identified the driver as 26-year-old She’Maliz. At the time the driver exited the vehicle, the back seat passenger, later identified as 23-year-old Rickain Johnson, fled on foot through the Target parking lot.
Additional FCSO units arrived to search for the suspect who had fled on foot. Cpl. Fred Gimbel and K-9 Holmes also arrived. Utilizing the passenger’s seat as a scent article, K-9 Holmes was deployed and pursued the trail directly west through the Target parking lot. As the team approached Walgreens, the suspect ran again. Gimbel, K-9 Holmes, along with other deputies on scene located the suspect and
apprehended Johnson at the corner of Belle Terre Parkway and State Road 100.
The investigation revealed that a third party had exited the vehicle prior to law enforcement arrival and was inside the Taco Bell restaurant across the street. That occupant, 27-year-old Laquada Davis, was taken into custody at the Taco Bell and arrested.
Further investigation revealed that these subjects were involved in several vehicle burglaries in Flagler County. Two “smash and grab” style vehicle burglaries were reported as the deputies were investigating the stolen tag. One was reported at the Cypress Golf Course and the victim stated that credit cards were stolen and then fraudulently used at the Palm Coast Walmart.
The second burglary was reported at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club where the victim reported a purse stolen.
Upon reviewing the in store surveillance footage both the Palm Coast Walmart and Palm Coast Target, it was discovered that both Johnson and Davis possessed and fraudulently used the stolen credit cards. Johnson told deputies that he knew he was on probation and became scared when he saw law enforcement, which is why he ran.
During an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, deputies located two spring-loaded window punches, one flashlight, numerous gift cards, and a pair of gloves with fragments of glass in them. Deputies also located driver’s licenses for the victims, as well as a social security card belonging to one victim and an immigration card belonging to another victim. Multiple opened packages of $200 Visa gift cards were located and money orders. Loose currency was also found within the vehicle and seized as evidence.
By 7:30 pm, Davis, Johnson and May were placed under arrest and transported to the Flagler County Jail.
“This is another example of good police work, technology and K-9’s coming together to apprehend suspects that thought they could prey on our community,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “These three decided to make a pit stop after a busy night of breaking into vehicles and they found out the hard way that crime doesn’t pay and if you run from our deputies you will only go to jail tired. I am happy that we were able to return the stolen property to the owners. I want to congratulate Cpl. Gimble and K-9 Holmes on their first successful track.”
May is charged with driving while license suspended, habitual traffic violator, felony petit theft and two counts of accessory after the fact for burglary. She is being held on no bond.
Johnson is charged with two counts of burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance, among other charges. He is being held on no bond.
Davis is charged with five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card over $100, two counts of possession of
a stolen credit card, among other charges. She is held on an $18,500 bond.
The stolen property was returned to the victims.
