New Flagler Access Center offers mental health services

CAUGHT

on camera FCSO uses traffic footage to solve crimes A robbery suspect, who was later caught and found to be high on narcotics, stops in the middle of an intersection and gestures at other drivers.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

This past April, a man robbed someone at a local hotel, then drove around the city stopping his car in the middle of intersections. He’d get out of the car and gesticulate wildly at other drivers, in one instance opening a man’s unlocked car door and grabbing the man’s phone and a pack of cigarettes.

Much of that crime spree was captured on camera — not on surveillance cameras, but on the city of Palm Coast’s network of traffic cameras, which the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s Real Time Crime Center uses to solve crimes.

“We were able to show [deputies] the videos as it was happening,” Real Time Crime Center Supervisor Nikki North told Palm Coast City Council members at a Feb. 1 City Couch meeting.

Deputies caught the robber, who was high on narcotics.

North, along with Sheriff Rick Staly and Homeland Security Section Commander Joseph Barile, appeared before the City Council Feb. 1 to request that the city formalize an agreement allowing FCSO staff access to the traffic cameras’ footage and specifying the responsibilities of the city and of the FCSO.

“Since the Crime Center was developed about three years ago, the city of Palm Coast traffic cameras have played a vital role in our success,” Barile told the council.

The City Council voted for the agreement 5-0 after Staly, Barile and North relayed stories about how the Sheriff’s Office uses the footage.

“We’re using these for anything and everything you can think of to help us solve crimes on a daily basis,” North said. “So it’s been a great partnership to have.”

The FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center feature a larges screen on which deputies can view the traffic camera footage on a grid, she said.

“We only utilize them if a crime is occurring,” she said. “So we monitor our radio or call screen to see what’s coming in. ... We’re not just watching it for the sake of watching it.”

She gave examples of how the camer-

The Sheriff’s Office’s Real Time Crime Center features a screen on which deputies can view traffic camera feeds to track suspects.

“This is a tool, and it's a very good tool. You know why it is a good tool? Because it doesn't lie.”

EDDIE BRANQUINHO, city councilman

as have helped deputies track down suspects.

Recently, she said, a group of criminals came to Palm Coast from Texas. Deputies used traffic camera videos and local businesses’ surveillance footage to identify the suspects’ vehicle. They also determined that the suspects had stolen a local car.

Those suspects were ultimately caught in Tallahassee — one of them still wearing an ankle monitor from Texas, Staly said.

“Their whole crime spree unraveled, and I’m sure they’re going to enjoy federal prison,” Staly said.

In another instance, the FCSO was investigating a series of smashand-grab car break-ins, one of which occurred at Palm Coast’s Waterfront Park, where a thief had broken a car’s window and stolen a purse.

“As the call was coming in, they were able to locate a suspect vehicle,” North said. “They were able to track that vehicle on the traffic cameras. And sure enough, as the vehicle is pulling out of Walmart, our deputies were able to set up stop sticks in neighboring areas, and were able to stop-stick them and locate the burglars in that case.”

Stop sticks are tire-puncturing devices used by law enforcement officers to stop fleeing vehicles.

Some of the suspects in the smashand-grab case had multiple warrants from across the East Coast, North said.

Staly noted that the Sheriff’s Office has also been working to develop agreements with business owners to use their surveillance footage, when needed. He thanked the City Council for the access the city had already granted the FCSO.

“Cases that were highlighted tonight may not have been solved without that support,” he said.

City Councilman Nick Klufas noted that the city of Palm Coast’s fiber network provides the backbone for the camera system.

“It is great that this infrastructure that we, as a home brew entity, had provided, is now empowering our sheriff to be able to provide services and keep the level of community that we expect in Palm Coast,” Klufas said.

City Councilman Eddie Branquinho, a former police detective from New Jersey, supported the proposed agreement with the FCSO.

“I’m glad that we have this partnership. This is a tool, and it’s a very good tool,” Branquinho said. “You know why it is a good tool? Because it doesn’t lie. Whatever it shows, it is — you can’t fight this.”

He said he was glad that the footage isn’t viewed except when needed.

“I’m glad you said that this is strictly for crime use — not for Big Brother watching over you,” he said. “That’s good to hear.”

He added, “What you’re asking, it’s very little compared to what you do for us.”

Email jonathan@palmcoastobserver.com.

"We're using these for anything and everything you can think of to help us solve crimes on a daily basis." New Flagler Access Center offers mental health care services

The recently opened center is trying to let the community know it’s there.

JONATHAN SIMMONS

NEWS EDITOR

SMA Healthcare is offering mental health and substance abuse screenings, care coordination and crisis response at the recently opened Flagler Access Center at 103 E. Moody Blvd., and is planning new services through a partnership with AdventHealth.

SMA is trying to let the community know about local mental health and substance abuse treatment options, SMA Chief Operating Officer Rhonda Harvey told Palm Coast City Council members at a Feb. 1 council meeting.

“We want to make sure that the community knows how to get ahold of us,” she said. “The easiest, simplest way is to walk straight into the Access Center, there at the corner of U.S. 1 and Moody Boulevard.”

It’s open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Outside of those hours, people can call 800-539-4228 to connect to the center’s 24/7 oncall crisis response team.

The Access Center, which opened with a ribbon cutting on Jan. 11, is a partnership between SMA, Flagler County and Flagler Health+.

“It is a walk-in, get services right away type of a center,” Harvey said. “We will be doing screenings for individuals, and instead of referring them to services or giving them a phone number or directions on how to get somewhere, we’re going to actually either provide the service on-site, or link them to a service within our or another spectrum of care.”

The Access Center, she said, will assist with transportation and case management, as well.

“We just want to get the message out,” she said. “An individual that is in need of behavioral health services, they need to raise their hand up and say, ‘I need help,’ or have a family member bring them to us. We want to be accessible.”

SMA Healthcare has operated in Flagler County since 1985, first offering outpatient services, then a number of residential programs as well.

Last fiscal year, it served 2,867 Flagler County residents, providing outpatient services and case management for 2,139, screening and assessment for 379, residential or detox services for 300 and primary care for 49.

SMA is working with AdventHealth on a potential medicationassisted opioid addiction treatment program, Harvey said.

“We will apply for the every grant that comes down the pike,” she said. “Our hope is that with the opioid settlement that is coming, that there will be a lot more opportunities.”

PATIENTS SERVED AT SMA

2,867

Flagler residents served 2,139

people given outpatient services and case management 379

patients screened and assessed 300

patients residential or detox services 49