A three-hour chase across two counties came to a muddy end on Monday morning after deputies said a street sweeper operator reported his vehicle was taken from him during an alleged carjacking.
According to the street sweeper operator, the suspect approached him at a CVS in Daytona Beach just after 4 a.m. on Monday and stole his pickup truck, which is used as a street sweeper. The victim called 911 to report the incident.
Flagler County sheriff’s deputies were alerted to be on the lookout for a possible armed suspect leaving Volusia County. Shortly after, Flagler County sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle in question, the driver bailed out and fled on foot.
K-9s and air surveillance helped locate the alleged carjacker in the area of Point Pleasant and Point of Woods Drive in Palm Coast. A deputy tackled him to the ground, with both landing in a mud-filled ditch. The suspect was arrested without further incident. Deputy Clay sustained minor injuries during the apprehension and was treated and released from the hospital.
The suspect initially gave deputies a false name and claimed to be a 17-year-old. However, deputies identified him as 18-year-old Sterling Orlando Davis-Jones, of Jacksonville. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, he has a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 2014 when he was just 10-years old. He is currently on juvenile probation for grand theft.
He’s been arrested in South Florida with 18 misdemeanor offenses and 18 felony offenses. Since 2014, Davis-Jones has been arrested with Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure, Grand Theft – Third Degree, Possession of Burglary Tools, several counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling, several counts of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft of a Firearm, Under 18 Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Firearm by a Minor, Robbery with a Weapon, Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement/EMT and Grand Theft of a Fire Extinguisher.
Davis-Jones is now facing multiple charges related to Monday’s incident. The armed carjacking investigation has been turned over to the Daytona Beach Police Department.
“Another outstanding job by the team getting this dangerous criminal off the streets,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “The juvenile justice system failed this kid by giving him chance after chance. This kid is never going to learn his lesson so now that he is an adult the system needs to hold him accountable and send him away before he seriously hurts or kills someone. I’m glad that Deputy Clay is expected to make a full recovery!”
