PALM COAST, Fla. - Two fugitives from justice were arrested in Flagler County on Thursday, according to a release from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. One of the two was a local fugitive, and the other one was wanted in Rhode Island. The two were not linked to one another.
The first of the two arrests was on Thursday, when deputies spotted a Jeep with a temporary tag from Rhode Island associated with 50-year-old Hongnian Guo, who has an outstanding nationwide fugitive warrant for violating a court order in his home state.
Guo was pulled over, and reportedly told deputies he was accused of being a Chinese spy who'd fled to Florida. The FCSO say this claim cannot be verified, but that he was arrested the other week in Rhode Island for possession of unregistered firearms. He was arrested on one felony charge of being a fugitive from justice, and as of Monday afternoon he remains in custody at the county jail. Prior to being booked he was evaluated at AdventHealth Palm Coast for a previously existing medical condition.
The second arrest was of Michael Conklin, a 32-year-old Bunnell resident whose license plate matched one from the theft of a pickup truck on Tuesday. Conklin was seen driving west on SR-100 near CR-35, and deputies followed him until he stopped at a residence on Forest Park St.
Conklin was arrested and charged with burglary, first degree petit theft of motor vehicle parts, driving with a suspended license, failure to appear for a misdemeanor summons, and violation of probation. Prior offenses of Conklin's in Flagler County include grand theft and marijuana possession among others.
