- April 19, 2024
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On May 3, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed a silver sedan traveling on State Road 100 West in Bunnell at a speed of 95 miles per hour.
Deputies initiated a traffic stop and observed multiple baggies being thrown out of the passenger window before the car came to a stop. The deputy collected information from the driver and passenger, later identified as Serone Bell.
While attempting to verify Bell’s identity, deputies observed Bell point a rifle at the driver and force him out of the vehicle. Bell then climbed into the driver’s seat and took off toward south Bunnell. Flagler County Fireflight was called for assistance.
FCSO Deputies and the Bunnell Police Department persued Bell and observed him tailgating, driving erratically, and weaving in and out of traffic resulting in a crash with a parked car. Sheriff Rick Staly and Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge spotted Bell traveling South on U.S. 1 and attempted to deploy StopSticks at Belle Terre and U.S. 1, but the deployment could not be safely done. They then joined the pursuit, following the suspect onto southbound I-95, where he reached speeds of over 100 mph, eventually exited on to LPGA Boulevard eastbound and then traveled south on Williamson Boulevard.
At this time, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and Daytona Beach Police also became involved in the pursuit and attempted to deploy StopSticks but were unsuccessful. Daytona Beach Police Department also blocked intersections to protect drivers and pedestrians from Bell’s dangerous and aggressive driving.
Bell then traveled Eastbound on International Speedway and then fled into the parking lot of Rooms To Go, where he crashed into two parked cars and then attempted to flee on foot. However, FCSO deputies and Daytona Beach Police were able to stop him with a Taser and take him to the ground and detain him. Once Bell was secured, deputies observed an AR15 style rifle along with a loaded 60 round magazine in the car.
This is not Bell’s first encounter with law enforcement. He has previously been convicted and served time in prison for selling methamphetamine.
Deputies located the baggies that were thrown out of the vehicle by Bell at the original traffic stop location in Bunnell and determined the contents to be 19.72 grams of fentanyl, 9.25 grams of cocaine, and 11 grams of an unknown substance. Bell had enough fentanyl to potentially kill over 20,000 people.
“Fortunately, Bell did not use his rifle against law enforcement or this would have had a very different ending,” Staly said. “It’s also a miracle that Bell did not seriously injure or kill himself or anyone else on the road with his aggressive fleeing. I want to thank all the agencies who assisted in apprehending him and protecting the community at intersections from his aggressive fleeing. It is fitting that Bell's ride came to end on International Speedway Boulevard near the speedway as I believe it was poison peddler's Bell’s last lap of freedom. Let this be a lesson to anyone thinking about running from law enforcement; there is no ‘winner’s circle’ waiting for you when you decide to flee a traffic stop.”
Serone Bell was arrested and transported to the Volusia County Jail. He is charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, giving a false name to law enforcement, marijuana possession, cocaine possession, fentanyl trafficking 14 to 20 grams, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and aggravated fleeing with disregard of safety to persons or property. He is being held on no bond. Additional charges are pending a search of his vehicle and by other agencies for traffic charges related to his crashes.
