(Click “Like” to become a fan of the Palm Coast Observer.)

A 29-year-old Bunnell man was arrested Sept. 3, after he allegedly punched a woman in the face during an Aug. 30 fight at Finn’s Beachside Pub, in Flagler Beach.

Harley James King, 29, was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility last week after witnesses said he punched Carey Ann Farquhar, 41, of Palm Coast.

Flagler Beach Police officers arrived at the bar around 11:56 p.m. in response to a physical disturbance call, according to the report.

Farquhar was standing about 10 feet from a fight that broke a few minutes earlier, according to the report. “Farquhar can be seen jumping in on the fight ... and then walking away after it was broken up,” the report states.

Another fight then broke out near the west stairs of the upper deck of the bar, and Farquhar was involved in that one, too, according to the report.

According to Finn’s video surveillance, Farquhar is seen talking to the victim of a fight a few minutes prior.

“A few moments later, (King) can be seen swinging toward Farquhar, and within seven seconds on the video, Farquhar is seen falling,” the report states.

Multiple witnesses saw the incident and described what King was wearing that night. King was then escorted downstairs by Finn's security until deputies arrived. 

Farquhar was transported to Halifax Hospital with an injury to her left eye socket. On Sept. 1, the deputy who responded to the Aug. 30 incident visted Farquhar at the hospital. “Farquhar’s left eye was swollen shut, and she stated that her eye socket was crushed and the ligaments around her eye were damaged,” the report states.

Farquhar said hospital staff told her that she might lose vision in her left eye, according to the report.

King, who has a history of arrests with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Sept. 3 on the aggravated battery charge. He was released after he posted $5,000 bail.

King has been arrested several times by the Sheriff’s Office, most recently in December 2008, when he was arrested for eight charges, including, but not limited to, possession of a controlled substance, shoplifting/retail theft, dealing in stolen property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Darrell Mulvenna, owner of Finn’s with his brother, said the beachside bar and restaurant — which turns into a club during late-night hours — has had very few incidents since he and his brother took over in 2005.

“You could count the number of incidents on less than one hand,” Mulvenna said Monday in a phone interview. “We have a zero-tolerance (policy) toward fighting, and we do have an extensive camera security system.”

The camera system proved helpful in the Aug. 30 incidents.

All persons involved in those incidents have been given a notice of trespass and won’t be allowed back to Finn’s, Mulvenna said.

— Reports from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Flagler Beach Police Department were used in this story.

• SHARE
• Email This Page
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google Bookmarks