- April 25, 2024
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On Nov. 2, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the W section about a possible domestic disturbance. The suspect, later identified as David Badal, fled upon questioning, almost striking a deputy with his vehicle during his flight.
The Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call about a male screaming and not letting the female victim leave the residence. Deputies arrived at the residence and asked Badal to step outside for questioning. He was asked to walk toward the driveway and instead started walking to the driver’s door of a black Lexus SUV parked in the driveway.
Badal then opened the driver’s door, got inside the car, and locked himself in the vehicle. Deputies knocked on the window and Badal started the car. When deputies attempted to open the door of the vehicle, Badal put the car in reverse, apparently attempting to hit a deputy. The deputy moved out of the way and attempted to open the passenger door when Badal rapidly accelerated, causing the deputy to push off the vehicle to avoid being struck. The deputy was not harmed.
As Badal fled, FireFlight responded to assist in the search. FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center was able to track the suspect vehicle to Botany Lane. The car had been hidden under a car cover in the driveway. A perimeter was established around the residence by deputies, and Badal ultimately exited the home and was arrested without further incident. Once he was placed under arrest, he asked several times if the deputy he assaulted was injured.
Badal has been previously arrested in Flagler County for Domestic Battery, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Flee and Elude Law Enforcement, Driving While License Suspended with Knowledge, Resist Officer without Violence, Corruption by Threat against Public Servant, Domestic Violence, Fugitive from Justice, Failure to Appear, Trespassing, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
“This situation could have ended much worse for our deputies or the suspect,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We could have had a deputy sheriff seriously injured because of his poor decisions and attempting to hit a deputy sheriff with his car. Our deputies showed great restraint, but we weren’t going to let him get away, and our team did a great job using every tool and resource available to find and arrest him. This dirtbag took a domestic violence case and turned it into multiple felony charges, so I hope he likes his cell at the Green Roof Inn.”
Badal was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He’s being charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Flee and Elude Law Enforcement. He’s being held on a $30,000 bond.
