By-Line: Joseph Bober, Public Information Office, FCSO
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people who fled after a detective witnessed a drug deal in a gas station parking lot.
On the afternoon of August 13, a detective with the FCSO Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit observed a suspicious incident in the parking lot of a Wawa on State Road 100 in Palm Coast, near Flagler Palm Coast High School. The detective noticed a white Infiniti sedan pull into the parking lot, and shortly after, a male arrived on an electric scooter and entered the back seat of the vehicle. The detective recognized the car from previous incidents to be registered to Leroy Sampson Jr., 36, of Bunnell, a known offender with over a dozen previous arrests and a suspect involved in the street-level sale of narcotics.
Suspecting the incident to be a possible drug transaction, the detective approached the vehicle while carrying a miniature Stop Stick tire deflation device to use in case the vehicle was to flee. As he neared the vehicle, the male exited the backseat and walked away. Through the open door, the detective noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
When he reached the vehicle, the detective observed two occupants inside: a female, later identified as Kayla Holmes, 27, of Palm Coast, in the driver’s seat and Sampson, holding plastic bags containing a white substance, in the passenger seat. Upon noticing the detective, Sampson began shoving the bags into his pockets, and Holmes began to reverse the vehicle. The detective immediately placed the tire deflation device behind the vehicle, deflating the rear passenger tire, and ordered the pair to exit. At Sampson’s urging, Holmes ignored the detective’s commands and pulled forward to exit the parking lot, striking another vehicle and rolling over a flower bed while fleeing at a high rate of speed.
Deputies later located the vehicle abandoned in front of an apartment complex on Bulldog Drive. After a brief search, another PACE detective located Sampson walking through the apartment complex. He was placed under arrest while deputies continued to search for Holmes.
While utilizing the K-9 Unit, drones, and Flagler County Fire Rescue’s FireFlight helicopter, deputies were initially unable to locate Holmes in the area surrounding the abandoned vehicle. However, through investigative means, the FCSO Real Time Crime Center determined that Holmes had exited the vehicle and was picked up in another vehicle headed in the direction of Bunnell. With assistance from the Bunnell Police Department, deputies later located Holmes, who surrendered and was arrested.
After searching the vehicle abandoned on Bulldog Drive, detectives located 16 plastic bags containing cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone pills, and marijuana.
Deputies arrested Sampson for possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of hydrocodone with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, tampering with evidence, accessory to fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and resisting arrest without violence.
Deputies arrested Holmes for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement.
Leroy Sampson Jr., left, and Kayla Holmes, right. (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mugshots)
“The PACE Unit was created to focus on known criminals and hot spots and has been an instrumental part of our crime reduction strategy that has resulted in a more than 50% crime reduction since 2017,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend our team for putting this drug dealer and his accomplice in the Green Roof Inn after they tried to run. You can attempt to elude the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, but I can guarantee you won’t be successful, and you’ll just go to jail tired with more felonies.”
Both Sampson and Holmes were transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where they are being held without bond and on a $20,000 bond, respectively.
View body camera footage from their arrests.
The post Two Arrested, Including a Known Offender, After Fleeing from PACE Unit Detective Who Witnessed Drug Deal first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
