Injured Suspect Wanted On Outstanding Fugitive Warrants

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Bunnell, FL - New details emerge from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office regarding a shooting that injured a suspect wanted on outstanding warrants.

The report from FCSO says the suspect, 30-year-old Steven Barneski, had felony warrants and was the subject of a nationwide pickup order to be held with no bond.

At some point prior to the shooting, deputies spotted a 1994 Toyota Corolla that is known to be associated to Barneski. Upon further observation, deputies spotted Barneski in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Not long after that, FCSO's Problem Area Crime Enforcement Team (PACE) initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, which eventually stopped in the driveway of a home off of Sabal Palms Street in the Daytona North area of Bunnell.

Once stopped, deputies approached the vehicle and commanded Barneski to exit. Barneski refused to comply. Deputies added that he rolled the window up while he asked who they were.

Barneski continued to sit in the vehicle as he ignored orders to step out of the vehicle. However, deputies noticed that Barneski was moving around in the vehicle before he abruptly reached under his seat and pulled out a handgun.

Once Barneski brandished the firearm, three deputies opened fire and struck him multiple times. After being shot, Barneski continued to hold the gun and refused to comply with orders from deputies to drop the weapon.

Deputies then utilized crisis-negotiating tactics in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Barneski eventually gave up and tossed the gun off into the grass near the car.

Once he was extracted from the car, Flagler County Fire Rescue personnel transported Barneski to Hidden Trails Park. There is where Air One from the Volusia Sheriff's Office picked up Barneski before transporting him to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona.

FCSO states that Barneski is currently listed in serious condition.

“It is unfortunate that this suspect did not surrender peacefully and instead chose to escalate this dangerous situation and force our deputies to protect themselves,” Sheriff Staly said in a release. “Barneski is a known criminal in Flagler County who has a history of wanting to physically harm deputies. But let it be known, if you pull a gun on a Deputy Sheriff, you can expect to be shot.”

At the time of the shooting, Barneski had warrants against him for possession of a
controlled schedule 2 substance and violation of probation for leaving the scene of an accident with injury.

Additionally, FCSO reports that Barneski has a lengthy criminal history in Flagler County, with arrests dating back to 2011.