Fugutive captured in Palm Coast after fleeing crash scene; search continues for second man

PALM COAST, Fla. — After an all-night search with helicopters and K9s, Flagler deputies located a Virginia fugitive who fled a crash scene with two others Friday night.

An off-duty deputy found James Kent Booth, 54, of Montpelier, Va. in a shed at a home on Big Horn Drive in Palm Coast around 5 a.m.

The deputy held him at gunpoint until other deputies arrived and took Booth into custody without incident.

Police said he is cooperating with detectives.

The search began Friday around 6 p.m. after deputies were called to the scene of a single vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 95 near mile marker 291 in Flagler County.

Witnesses who stopped to help told deputies that two men and a women fled the scene.

A homeowner who lives near I-95 later reported a female in need of assistance.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with the woman, who was identified as one of the crash victims.

They then began searching for the two men.

Booth was wanted in Virginia for leaving a work-release program without permission.

The second man identified only as “Mike’’ is still on the run.

Residents in the area were asked to be on the lookout for the two men and are urged to report all suspicious activity to 911 immediately.

“I’m very proud of the work these deputies did overnight to find this fugitive,’’ Flagler County Sheriff James L. Manfre said. “They worked long hours to protect our community in this situation and are to be commended.’’

Cox Media Group