- January 10, 2026
A Flagler County inmate died of apparent alcohol poisoning in a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office cell on Jan. 9.
Vadim Valenteychik, 54 of Palm Coast, was found unresponsive in a single-person cell at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility shortly after 6 a.m. on Jan. 9. FCSO detention deputies and medical staff immediately began life-saving measures, including using an automated external defibrillator, while waiting for Flagler County Fire Rescue to arrive, a FCSO press release said.
FCFR personnel later pronounced Valenteychik deceased. Sheriff Rick Staly has requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the death for complete transparency.
After the FDLE completes its investigations, the FCSO will conduct an internal review “to ensure all policies and procedures were followed.” A clinical medical review is also being conducted by the jail’s medical provider as required by FCSO's contract.
Valenteychik was being held on pending DUI charges. He was arrested on Jan. 8 after he crashed his car into a building at 2 Corporate Drive at around 9:43 a.m. and had a blood alcohol content of .340.
Valenteychik told FCSO deputies he drove over the curb into the bushes and then hit the building, according to his arrest report. A large, 25-ounce beer can was found open and spilled in Valenteychik’s driver seat.
Deputies brought Valenteychik to AdventHealth North Palm Coast for medical clearance. There, FCSO Master Deputy Faircloth administered a breathalyzer test and Valenteychik blew first a .325 and then a .340 at 11:44 a.m. That is over four times the legal limit, the report said.
Valenteychik was cleared by the hospital and taken to the county jail and booked into the single-person cell where deputies “conducted regular checks” throughout the night, the press release said.
Court and Detention Services Chief Dan Engert said that though Valenteychik’s exact cause of death is yet to be determined, research “has shown that blood alcohol content levels between 0.30% and 0.35% have an extremely high risk of coma or death.”
“Sadly, it is not uncommon for local jails to house inmates with significant health issues related to illicit drug and alcohol use,” Engert said. “Losing a loved one is never easy, especially so unexpectedly. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the crash and breath tests occurred in the evening on Thursday, Jan. 8. They occurred on Thursday morning.
