Flagler County Sheriff’s Office makes 11 arrests during weekend
Two major arrests highlighted a busy weekend for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, including a man who used fake police lights to make another driver pull over and a drunk driver who struck a deputy’s vehicle.
Between 6 p.m. Friday, October 24, and 6 a.m. Monday, October 27, deputies made 11 arrests, handled 902 calls for service, and conducted 143 traffic stops.
Fake Police Lights Lead to Arrest
On Saturday night, deputies arrested a 22-year-old man for using red and blue flashing lights to make another driver stop on the road.
A driver reported being followed by a black Dodge Ram that was driving recklessly on State Road 100 in west Bunnell. The vehicle continued following them onto County Road 302. When they reached County Road 75, the truck activated flashing red and blue lights.
The victim pulled over, thinking it was a law enforcement vehicle. However, the truck then went around them and sped away. The victim called the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center to report the incident.
Deputies located the vehicle on Lemon Street and stopped it. The driver was identified as Justin Bikowski, 22, of Bunnell.
Bikowski told deputies he was delivering groceries to his mother when a slow vehicle was in front of him. He said he noticed a passenger filming him and passed the vehicle in a passing zone. He claimed the vehicle then followed him, and he was trying to get away. He did not mention using flashing lights.
When deputies questioned his story, Bikowski first said he only turned on the orange hazard lights. After more questions, he admitted the vehicle had police-style lights that could be activated by a switch. He showed deputies the switch, and when turned on, red and blue lights flashed on the vehicle’s grill.
“If you are not a first responder, it is dangerous and against the law to have law enforcement-style emergency lights on your vehicle,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “And if you attempt to pull anybody over, it’s an automatic felony and a trip to the Green Roof Inn.”
Deputies arrested Bikowski for using red or blue lights to stop another vehicle. He was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $2,500 bond.
Drunk Driver Hits Deputy’s Vehicle
On Sunday night, deputies arrested a man who struck a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office vehicle while driving drunk and then failed to stop.
A Putnam County deputy was helping a disabled vehicle on State Road 100 near the county line when a silver Ford F-150 struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle, damaging the mirror. The truck kept driving.
The Putnam County deputy followed the vehicle for about one mile until it stopped. The driver was identified as Michael Natale, 42, of Bunnell. While waiting for Flagler County deputies to arrive, Natale fell asleep in his vehicle.
When Flagler County deputies arrived, they asked Natale to exit his vehicle due to bad weather and heavy traffic. Deputies noticed Natale stumbled getting out of the vehicle and swayed while standing. He smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes.
Deputies conducted field sobriety tests, which Natale failed. While searching him after the arrest, deputies found a vaping device containing THC.
At the jail, Natale provided two breath tests. The first showed a blood alcohol content of 0.161, and the second showed 0.149. The legal limit for driving is 0.08.
“This guy’s decision to get behind the wheel was very stupid and dangerous, and his decision to not stop after hitting a deputy’s car was even more foolish,” Sheriff Staly said. “I’m thankful the Putnam County deputy was not injured by this drunk driver. This is a reminder that you should not drink and drive, or you will visit new bars at the Green Roof Inn.”
Natale was arrested for DUI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher, DUI with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and possession of hashish. After medical clearance at a hospital, he was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $3,250 bond.
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