Two late-night traffic stops on North Ocean Shore Boulevard produced a DUI arrest involving a man carrying unidentified pills and a 20-year-old found with nearly 70 grams of marijuana, scales, and another person’s ID.
Arrest 1: “I Shouldn’t Be Driving” — DUI, pills, and a refusal to test
Just after midnight on Sunday, deputies pulled over a vehicle on North Ocean Shore Boulevard after confirming the registered owner had only an ID card and no valid driver’s license. The driver was identified as Richard Leahy, 64, of Palm Coast.
When deputies asked why he was driving without a license, Leahy replied that he was “just going to Sea Colony.” After being told that was not a valid excuse, he said, “I shouldn’t be driving.” Deputies noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle, observed that Leahy was slurring his words, and saw that he lacked steady movement. When asked to step out of the vehicle, he was unsteady and nearly fell into the roadway. Leahy refused to complete field sobriety exercises, and deputies placed him under arrest.
A search of Leahy turned up a medicine container with multiple types of pills. Deputies identified two of the pills as acetaminophen hydrocodone bitartrate, a Schedule II controlled substance; two as gabapentin; and one as atorvastatin calcium. Five other pills could not be identified. Leahy told deputies the pills were prescribed to him but could not provide proof of any prescriptions, even after being given multiple chances to do so. At the jail, he also refused to provide a breath sample for a DUI test.
Leahy was charged with driving while license suspended, cancelled, or revoked with knowledge; DUI; refusal to submit to DUI testing as a subsequent offense; possession of a controlled substance without a prescription; possession of a new legend drug without a prescription; and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a $7,150 bond. Leahy was previously arrested in December 2024 by the Florida Highway Patrol for DUI and driving while license suspended. He also has prior arrests for domestic battery.
“There are so many reasons this guy should not have been on the road, which he clearly knew. He didn’t have a license, was impaired, and had pills on him that he shouldn’t have. He once again earned himself a ride to the Green Roof Inn. Hopefully, he learns a lesson and doesn’t get behind the wheel again.”
— Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest 2: Broken taillights lead to discovery of marijuana, wax, and someone else’s ID
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Monday, a deputy stopped a vehicle near North Ocean Shore Boulevard and Jungle Hut Road in Palm Coast after observing that the car had no working taillights and no light illuminating the license plate. The driver was identified as Randall Ratliff, 20, of Interlachen, Florida.
Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana from the vehicle and spotted a burnt blunt in the door handle and an unburnt blunt on the floorboard. Both Ratliff and his passenger were asked to step out while deputies searched the car. Inside, they found a jar with THC wax residue, three THC wax cartridges, multiple clear plastic bags containing a total of 69 grams of marijuana, a scale, and an open box of plastic bags. Ratliff told deputies everything in the car was his.
Based on the quantity of marijuana combined with the scale and packaging bags, deputies concluded Ratliff was in possession of the marijuana with the intent to sell. During a search of Ratliff himself, deputies found a Maine driver’s license that belonged to someone else. When asked about it, Ratliff said, “I’ve had it for such a long time. It was a joke, to be honest.”
Ratliff was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of the personal identification information of another person. He was released on a $3,500 bond. The passenger was released at the scene.
“This was another great example of a relatively minor traffic stop leading to an arrest because our deputies look beyond the traffic stop to see if other crimes may be occurring. The evidence showed this guy was selling marijuana and THC wax, all illegal in Florida, out of his car, so he earned himself a trip to the Green Roof Inn.”
— Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
All charges listed are allegations — no convictions have been established. The “Green Roof Inn” 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 “I Shouldn’t Be Driving” — A DUI Arrest, a Roadside Drug Dealer, and 18 Arrests in One Weekend in Flagler County first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
