Flagler Sheriff uses technology to arrest two out-of-state fugitives

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office used technology to recover a stolen vehicle from Virginia and arrest a teen fugitive impersonating a DEA agent.

Last Thursday afternoon, a be on the lookout notice was issued for a stolen 2011 Ford F-150 with Virginia tags.

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Deputies spotted the tag at the Amoco on State Road 100 and arrested 41-year-old Joshua Schmidt on charges of felony grand theft of a motor vehicle and felony fugitive from justice.

Schmidt also has an extraditable warrant out of Virginia for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell/manufacture.

On Friday, deputies were called to the Walmart on Cypress Point Parkway after employees said a teen confronted a Walmart vendor outside the store and accused them of stealing his wallet.

According to deputies, the teen said he was a DEA agent, and showed the vendor a cover for a protective vest and a patch on his undershirt, demanding the vendor give him his wallet back.

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When deputies arrived, they questioned the teen who gave a false name.

Deputies used Rapid-ID field fingerprint system and were able to determine that the teen’s real name was Chance Vanhofwegen and discovered that the 19-year-old was a fugitive from South Dakota for violation of probation.

Vanhofwegen was arrested and charged with being a felony fugitive from justice, felony falsely impersonating an officer and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer.

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“I was on the scene at Friday’s fugitive arrest and saw our deputies handle this arrest and work to verify his identity. This is a great example of all the hard work our deputies and communication specialists face daily,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “People do lie to us and with the technology we have implemented we quickly find out who they are and it usually results in them going to jail with additional charges. Stealing a car, impersonating a law enforcement officer and giving a false name will earn you a pair of silver bracelets and a trip to the Green Roof Inn every time.”

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