- April 26, 2024
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Deputies captured two wanted men — one wanted for battery on a law enforcement officer, and the other for stealing a car — in a busy 24 hours of patrol on Monday, Feb. 28, as Flagler County Sheriff’s Office communication specialists serviced 276 different calls from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m Tuesday.
“When you choose a life of crime, you are choosing to lose your freedom."
— RICK STALY, sheriff
The day began early with the capture of David Keith Etheridge, a 30-year-old Palm Coast man wanted in Gilchrist County for three counts of battery of a law enforcement officer.
Deputies served an out-of-county warrant on him at a Coral Reef Court home just before 9 a.m. on Feb. 28. The 30-year-old bonded out of the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on March 1.
The FCSO night shift took part in the apprehension of the second wanted man as deputies worked with the Bunnell Police Department on a case.
After the St. John’s Sheriff’s Office issued a “Be On The Lookout” request for 33-year-old Shayne Lavan Steward of Fort Myers, Florida for stealing a car, FCSO deputies and Bunnell Police Department officers teamed up to take the fugitive into custody.
Deputies and officers of the two agencies responded to the area of North State Street just after 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28. After positive identification was made, an FCSO deputy set up stop sticks in the path of the stolen vehicle. The stop sticks deployed a successful hit, but the car continued until the chase came to an end on East Drain Street.
The vehicle quickly changed directions, colliding with the driver’s side of a BPD patrol car.
Steward then attempted to flee on foot as FCSO deputies and BPD officers pursued him. After issuing verbal warnings for Steward to stop, a BPD officer tased him.
After officers issued several more verbal commands, Steward, by then on the ground, tried to get on his feet and run. He was tased a second time.
Steward was then taken into custody, transported to Advent Health Palm Coast for treatment and then processed into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
The BPD officer involved in the vehicle collision with Steward was treated for a head abrasion and an injury to his left hand.
“Here are two guys who thought they could commit crimes somewhere else and then hide out in Flagler County. The long arm of the law was here waiting on them and took them down,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “When you choose a life of crime, you are choosing to lose your freedom. From attempting to hurt law enforcement officers to stealing someone’s car and hurting another officer in the process, these fugitives got exactly what they deserved — a one-way trip to the Green Roof Inn.”
Steward is currently in the county jail where he is being held on no bond. Steward is on probation for robbery and has an out of county arrest warrant from the Florida Department of Corrections for parole violation.
He now faces charges for grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting an officer without violence, criminal mischief over $1,000, aggravated battery on law enforcement officer, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement with lights and sirens.
Steward’s criminal record dates back to 2007. He’s previously been charged in Flagler County for resisting an officer without violence, battery on security officer, battery by spitting (DV), driving while license suspended with knowledge, and failure to appear.
