BUNNELL, Fla. — Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies made eight arrests this past weekend between 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, and 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Deputies handled 758 calls for service and made 109 traffic stops.
Fugitive Arrested for Cocaine Trafficking Warrant
On Friday, the Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit arrested a Palm Coast man on a fugitive warrant from Volusia County for cocaine trafficking.
Friday night, a PACE Unit detective conducted a traffic stop after observing a traffic infraction and determining the vehicle’s registered owner, Jumah Battle, 25, of Palm Coast, had an active fugitive arrest warrant. During the traffic stop, detectives identified Battle as the driver and confirmed he was wanted for trafficking in cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Jumah Battle (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mug shot)
Detectives arrested Battle on his active fugitive warrant. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $255,000 bond.
“This guy was not just a poison peddler, but a poison trafficker, and our PACE Unit got him off the street,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “If you think you can hide out in Flagler County with an active warrant, think again.”
Battle is well known to law enforcement. He has been previously arrested four times for charges including possession of marijuana (21 grams or more), carrying a concealed weapon, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and failure to appear. His prior arrests have resulted in three felony convictions.
Career Criminal Arrested, Stolen Vehicle Recovered on State Road 100
On Saturday, deputies arrested a man and recovered a vehicle that had been stolen in Putnam County.
Saturday afternoon, deputies located a truck that had been reported stolen in Putnam County on the shoulder of State Road 100 West in Bunnell. When deputies found the truck, they observed a man, later identified as Armen Pilafjian, 56, a transient, standing at the front of the vehicle appearing to work on it.
Pilafjian told deputies he had taken possession of the vehicle from a friend, with the understanding that he would eventually provide payment for it. He also stated the agreement had been made using another friend’s phone, and he did not have a phone of his own to contact the victim regarding payment.
Pilafjian did not possess a key to the vehicle, but deputies determined he was able to operate it by manually turning the ignition cylinder.
Armen Pilafjian (Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility mug shot)
After confirming the vehicle’s license plate had been reported stolen, deputies arrested Pilafjian for petit theft with prior convictions. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $5,000 bond.
Due to a clerical error that was discovered involving mismatched vehicle identification numbers, deputies could not confirm the vehicle itself as stolen. The investigation is ongoing, and an additional charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle is expected to be added once the clerical error is corrected.
“This guy told deputies his friend agreed to give him the truck. That obviously wasn’t the case, as it was instead reported stolen and deputies found he didn’t even have a key to the vehicle but was manipulating the ignition,” said Sheriff Staly. “Combine that with the fact he has a 76-page rap sheet for convictions for thefts dating back nearly 40 years, the circumstances didn’t paint a good picture for him, so now he’s sitting in the Green Roof Inn. It’s time this career criminal goes back to prison!”
Pilafjian has an extensive arrest history, with 34 previous arrests for charges including grand theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of a dwelling while armed, burglary with assault or battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief with property damage, fraudulent use of a credit card, uttering a forged instrument, dealing in stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of cocaine, domestic battery, and felony driving while license suspended. His prior arrests have resulted in 22 felony convictions and 12 misdemeanor convictions; 18 of his convictions are theft related. He has served six sentences in state prison.
The post FCSO Weekend Roundup: October 24-25 first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
