- May 5, 2024
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A traffic stop for a non-functioning tag light spiraled into a series of crimes and three arrests on Aug. 12.
After deputies stopped a Nissan Altima, the two people in the car left it on the side of the road and ran into the woods, and the driver called his mother — the car's owner — to tell her he was running from police in her car and had ditched it. The mother then falsely reported the car as stolen.
“It wasn’t enough to flee from a minor traffic violation, so they decided to make it a family affair by mom reporting her car stolen even though she knew her son had it,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This was a night full of poor decisions, but I hope they are able to get back on the right track and get their lives back in order. We want to thank the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with the search.”
The driver was identified as 24-year-old Markee Webb. His passenger was 29-year-old Keydra Lyons. Webb's mother is 47-year-old Contina Smith. Webb and Smith are Interlachen residents, while Lyons is a Gainesville resident.
All three were booked at the county jail and have been released on bond.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office had attempted the traffic stop at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 on US 1 after a deputy noticed that the car's tag light was out.
The car did not immediately pull over, and when it did, it was never put in park. As the deputy approached the car on the passenger side, the car quickly accelerated.
The deputy could see the male driver because the window was down. There was a woman in the passenger seat.
The car drove recklessly at a high rate of speed with no regard for the safety of others. Deputies did not pursue it.
It was later found abandoned in the northwest cul-de-sac on Magnolia Trace Boulevard in Palm Coast, near a wooded area.
Deputies established a perimeter, and a K-9 Unit responded along with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office's Air One helicopter.
Law enforcement made multiple announcements for the subjects to exit the woods, but they did not comply.
The K-9 Unit and deputies entered the woods. Once they got close to the subjects, the subjects said that they were surrendering.
The driver, Webb, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Driving without a License and Resisting Arrest. He was released after posting a $6,000 bond.
The passenger, Lyons, was arrested and charged with Resisting Arrest. She was released after posting a $500 bond.
While deputies were out with the two subjects, Smith — Webb’s mother and the car's owner — called to report the vehicle stolen.
The investigation revealed that Webb contacted his mother after abandoning the car and while hiding in the woods.
At that time, Smith called to report her vehicle stolen. She then admitted to knowing her son had the vehicle, and that it was not stolen. Smith was arrested and charged with Filing a False Police Report. She was released after posting a $500 bond.
None of the subjects arrested have previous arrests in Flagler County.
