- April 15, 2024
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By: Brittany Kershaw
Public Affairs Manager, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was able to apprehend fugitives during two recent stolen vehicle recoveries. FCSO responded to the report of a stolen vehicle at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, on South State Street in Bunnell. Bunnell Police Officers, along with Sheriff Rick Staly and FCSO deputies conducted a felony traffic stop on the blue Hyundai Tucson. The driver and passenger complied with law enforcement and were detained.
The driver was identified as 28-year-old Briana Atkinson, and the passenger was identified as 31-year-old Matthew McLaurin. Atkinson claimed she rented the vehicle from the registered owner and that it may have been reported stolen due to the registered owner’s financial issues. Atkinson was arrested and charged with grand theft and driving with a suspended license. McLaurin was released at the scene.
Upon entry at the Flagler County Jail, it was discovered that Atkinson was concealing contraband inside her bra. Detention deputies found 0.7 grams of heroin and 0.6 grams of methamphetamine. Atkinson received additional charges.
Atkinson was also found to have an active arrest warrant from New York for a parole violation. She remains in the Flagler County Jail without bond.
In addition, FCSO responded to the report of a stolen vehicle at 11:26 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, with a North Carolina license plate was traveling on US1 northbound. Deputies attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop on Kankakee Trail in Palm Coast but the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. After driving recklessly with disregard for persons or property, the vehicle crashed off of US1 and hit a tree.
All of the occupants except the driver exited the vehicle and fled following the crash. The driver remained in the vehicle and continually attempted to accelerate the vehicle in order to flee, however the vehicle was stuck in the ditch. After failure to follow the commands of deputies, a deputy deployed his agency-issued Taser twice in order to gain control of the driver. The driver then exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. The front-seat passenger was also located and taken into custody.
The driver was identified as 44-year-old Torranno Smith, and the passenger was identified as 41-year-old Tyreemah Green. There were multiple open alcohol containers in the vehicle along with drink mixers.
“I’m very proud of our team for leveraging the technology they have and good police work to tactically take these criminals off the streets of Flagler County and put them in the Green Roof Inn where they belong so that they cannot prey on other victims,” Staly said. “Not only are they stealing other people’s vehicles, but both cases involved criminals with warrants from other counties or states that are actively evading arrest. Both cases also involved dangerous narcotics. Now the vehicles can
be returned to their rightful owners.”
Smith was arrested for grand theft of a motor vehicle, among other charges. Smith had two active warrants from Volusia County.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a purse belonging to Green. Inside the purse deputies located MDMA, two Clonazepam tablets, a crack pipe and a hypodermic needle. Green was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, among other charges. She remains in jail with a $3,500 bond.
