- April 26, 2024
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A man and a woman arrested in a March 9 car chase and vehicle fire are also being charged with animal cruelty felonies for allegedly leaving two dogs behind in the burning vehicle.
One dog died in the fire, and the other escaped into the woods with unknown injuries, according to the male suspect’s arrest report.
The incident started just before noon when the pickup truck — reported stolen out of Jacksonville the night before — was spotted heading east on State Road 100 toward Flagler Beach, according to the report.
A deputy found the truck on Highbridge Road at the drawbridge and followed it onto Interstate 95 northbound.
Flagler County’s Fire Flight helicopter was requested, and deputies tried to pull the truck over on I-95.
Fire Flight followed the truck as the driver fled from deputies on I-95 and exited onto Matanzas Woods Parkway, where deputies used Stop Sticks to puncture one of the truck’s tires.
The truck continued until it crashed at Hargrove Grade and U.S. 1 and both suspects fled the vehicle, leaving the two dogs in the truck.
The truck caught fire for unknown reasons. One dog managed to escape and run off but the other died, according to the report.
The Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue responded and worked to extinguish the flames, according to a social media post from PCFD. PCFD Engines 21 and 23 and Fire Rescue 21 responded.
Both suspects were caught in the area around Hargrove Grade and U.S. 1.
An FCSO K-9 unit took in the male suspect, who pushed and struck the dog while trying to get it away.
Both suspects have been charged with animal cruelty causing cruel death, pain and suffering.
The man is also being charged with resisting officers without violence, striking a police animal, aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief over $1000.
The woman has also been charged with resisting an officer without violence.
The woman is being held on $22,000 bond, and the man on $103,500 bond.
This story has been updated.
