The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office had an active weekend, highlighted by the arrest of a habitual offender just months out of prison and the capture of a Massachusetts man carrying warrants that had been outstanding since 2004.
Arrest 1: Habitual offender caught again — just two months after prison release
On Friday afternoon, the FCSO Problem Area Crime Enforcement (PACE) Unit stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Royal Palms Parkway and U.S. Highway 1 in Palm Coast after observing an expired registration. The driver was identified as Jimmie Belle III, 32, of Palm Coast.
During the stop, detectives found that Belle did not have a valid driver’s license. A check of his record revealed four prior convictions for driving while his license was suspended and four additional convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. Belle had most recently been released from state prison in February 2026 — approximately two months before his arrest.
Belle was arrested for driving while license suspended — habitual offense. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $2,500 bond. His arrest history in Flagler County includes 17 total arrests going back to 2012, with convictions across Flagler, St. Johns, and Clay counties. Those convictions include grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with wanton disregard for the safety of others, battery on a law enforcement officer, domestic battery by strangulation, habitual traffic offender status, and possession of MDMA. He has served four separate prison sentences.
“Apparently, he didn’t learn anything during his many stints in prison that he shouldn’t violate the law. At least this habitual traffic offender did learn he should not flee from law enforcement.”
— Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest 2: Massachusetts man caught with 22-year-old warrants — discovered at a minor crash scene
On Sunday evening at approximately 8:30 p.m., deputies responded to a minor traffic crash on Belle Terre Parkway. While investigating the crash, deputies ran the information of those involved and discovered that one of the passengers, Carl Rivera, 52, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, had two active felony fugitive warrants from Miami-Dade County — both of which had been issued in 2004, more than 22 years ago.
The warrants were for two separate charges: possession of a controlled substance combined with violation of probation, and possession of a controlled substance combined with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. Rivera was arrested on both warrants and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond. He is awaiting extradition to Miami-Dade County.
“This guy has been wanted in Miami for over 20 years. I commend our deputies for looking beyond the initial call and apprehending this guy who thought he had escaped the long arm of the law. Instead, he earned himself a trip to the Green Roof Inn and a free trip to Miami by the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office.”
— Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
All charges listed are allegations at this stage — no convictions have been established for the current arrests. The “Green Roof Inn” referenced by Sheriff Staly is the local nickname for the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. More information about the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is available at flaglersheriff.com.
The post 19 Arrests Over One Weekend: A Recently Released Felon and a Man Wanted for 22 Years Among Those Taken Into Custody first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
