The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested five people at Palm Coast’s Walmart store on Tuesday on various charges. A U-Haul truck in the parking lot was found to have drug paraphernalia, and evidence of drug activity was found on multiple suspects’ bodies, the FCSO says.
On April 28, the U-Haul truck in question was said to have run a red light. That led to it being pulled over on Tuesday at the Walmart parking lot. The occupants were 25-year-old Jerome Hurst and 38-year-old Jessica Bontempo, both Palm Coast residents.
When deputies approached the U-Haul, Hurst was said to have exited from the passenger side to conceal who was driving the car. K-9 Lola was deployed to conduct a sniff test, tipping deputies off that the truck could contain illegal drugs.
A red straw was found near the passenger seat belt buckle in the U-Haul which was tested for the residue present on it. These tests generated a positive reading for fentanyl. A hollowed out pen from Bontempo’s bra then also tested positive for methamphetamine.
Once the back of the U-Haul was opened, two more suspects were revealed: Josiah Feimster and Bridgett Dubena, both 23-year-old Palm Coast residents. Here, deputies reportedly found more drug paraphernalia including burnt tin foil, cut straws, and plastic bags with drug residue.
During the investigation, a fifth suspect approached the scene. 42-year-old Palm Coast resident April Hamilton was said to have tried walking toward deputies before being warned to stay at least 25 feet back. After allegedly continuing to approach, she was placed under arrest for interfering with an on-duty first responder. She was later released on $150 bond. Hamilton has no prior arrests in Flagler County.
Hurst was charged with driving with a suspended license. Bontempo was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. Feimster and Dubena were charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest without violence.
