- May 18, 2024
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Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies de-escalated two potentially dangerous incidents within 48 hours on April 15 and April 17.
“Unfortunately, law enforcement has become the default mental health agency due to the lack of funding and resources available,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “In these dangerous instances, our deputies did a great job using their training to safely de-escalate these incidents and resolve them without anyone being injured. I’m very proud of our team and thank them for successfully resolving back-to-back dangerous encounters.”
“Unfortunately, law enforcement has become the default mental health agency due to the lack of funding and resources available.”
— RICK STALY, Flagler County sheriff
On April 15, the FCSO responded to 1730 Berrybush St. in Bunnell after dispatchers received a call from a neighbor who said they could hear gunshots coming from inside the home.
FCSO K9, SWAT, and patrol deputies established a perimeter around the home. Eventually, the SWAT team entered the residence, made contact with the resident and detained him.
The house was riddled with bullets from the inside, and a search of the house recovered multiple firearms and ammunition.
The man told deputies that he was a military veteran and had “seen enemy in the tree lines” and that he was “ready to go to heaven.”
Based on the circumstances and statements made on the scene, the man was secured under a Baker Act and taken to Halifax Hospital.
Further investigation revealed that he was a Vietnam War veteran and was having flashbacks.
On April 17, dispatchers received a call from a woman saying that her ex-boyfriend, 34-year-old Joseph Bourke, was refusing to let her collect her belongings and was threatening to harm her via text messages and threatened to attempt "suicide by cop" if she called law enforcement.
FCSO Deputies, K-9, and SWAT responded to Bourke’s residence on Breeze Hill Lane in Palm Coast and established a perimeter.
Negotiators spoke with Bourke on the phone and tried to persuade him to come outside, but Bourke replied, “I ain't going peacefully.”
Throughout the incident, Bourke was tapping on his windows, hanging out windows and running in and out of his home in an attempt to engage with deputies.
Bourke was finally taken into custody when he came outside of his residence and was struck with a non-lethal round, which immobilized him.
Bourke was then taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and charged with Written Threats to Kill and Domestic Battery. He is being held on $15,000 bond.
Video of Bourke’s arrest can be seen here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17wZhKdQt5p94G_ovlo-NZgGsdvoWuEyf/view?usp=sharing
Bourke has a criminal history in Flagler County dating back to 2008 for multiple charges including Driving Under the Influence, Robbery, Resisting an Officer with Violence, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Sale of a Controlled Substance.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, seek help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 800-273-8255. Locally, Stewart-Marchman Act Crisis Center is available. Their crisis line is 800-539-4228 and is available 24 hours a day. In the event of an emergency, call 911.
