Convicted sex offender arrested after allegedly waving a rifle along an open road

The man fired a shot into the air before running from deputies, according to a Flagler County Sheriff's Office press release.

By Observer Staff
| 6:29 p.m. May 4, 2023

Palm Coast Observer
News

Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man on May 4 who was allegedly waving a rifle around as he walked on an open road in the Mondex area.

Manuel Almeida, 72, was arrested on multiple charges, including openly carrying a firearm and discharging a firearm in public. Almeida was also charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon: He was convicted of burglary and sexual battery of a victim under 16 in 1997.

The incident began at around 8:30 a.m. FCSO deputies responded to several calls about a man "swinging around" a rifle around as he walked along Mahogany Boulevard in Bunnell, according to a press release from the FCSO.

The FCSO deputy first on the scene used the office's Real Time Crime Center as a 'virtual backup,' the press release said, live streaming the interaction to provide real-time updates until other deputies arrived.

Almeida was uncooperative, the press release said, and fired one shot into the air before running into nearby woods. Deputies were able to deescalate the situation and arrest him. His gun was found in the woods with a shell casing jamming the rifle.