Flagler High-Speed Chase Ends With "Dirtbag" Arrest

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Palm Coast, FL - A two-county high-speed chase involving Flagler County's Sheriff ends with the arrest of a wanted man in Volusia County who had reportedly threatened to kill the mother of his child.

23-year-old Tavarius Stokes is held without bond at Volusia County Jail on charges stemming from the chase as well as active warrants in two other cases in Volusia and Flagler.

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office says it all started on Friday when the Bunnell Police Department were sent to a domestic violence call involving Stokes and his child's mother, according to FCSO spokesperson Shannon Martin.

"During that investigation, Stokes was determined to be wanted by Volusia County [Sheriff's Office] on multiple warrants," Martin added. "On Saturday, BPD responded to a call about 2 p.m. from a man stating that Stokes had just pulled a gun on his own child’s mother and then fled the scene in a 2012 red Suzuki vehicle that was reported stolen earlier in the day."

It was a short time after that when Stokes was spotted in the car by a FCSO deputy near Flagler Palm Coast High School on State Road 100, but Stokes didn't stop when the deputy tried to pull him over, per Martin.

"Stokes fled from law enforcement and ultimately went south on [Interstate] 95," Martin noted. "[Flagler County] Sheriff [Rick] Staly, who was in the area, joined the vehicle apprehension and authorized the pursuit to continue because he was a dangerous fugitive threatening to kill people and had to be apprehended."

Speeds of 110 miles per hour were recorded from Stokes' car by FCSO as he attempted to hit the vehicles of Staly and other personnel who joined in the chase, according to Martin.

"Stokes did succeed in hitting one FCSO patrol vehicle, causing minor damage," Martin stated.

The chase came to an end near the State Road 40/Granada Boulevard exit in Ormond Beach after Stokes stopped the stolen Suzuki on his own, giving FCSO the chance to box the stolen car he was in with theirs.

“This is a dangerous fugitive who was threatening to kill people,” said Sheriff Staly afterward. “He then endangered countless lives by driving recklessly across county lines. I want to commend my deputies for safely pursuing this dirtbag and ending this dangerous incident safely.”

According to Martin, Stokes had active warrants for his arrest in Flagler for failing to show up in court on a domestic abuse case and in Volusia for violating probation on drug possession.

"This is not the first time Stokes has attempted to run from the law," Martin said. "He was arrested in 2014 after another high-speed pursuit and was charged then for fleeing and eluding. Stokes was [also] arrested 6 separate times in 2017 for burglary of an unoccupied conveyance."

Stokes is currently charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding and grand theft auto, but more charges are expected soon from FCSO and BPD.

Photos below of Sheriff Staly with deputies at the scene is courtesy of FCSO.