Crisis negotiators with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office successfully defused a tense and dangerous standoff between law enforcement and a man said to be armed and suicidal on Monday. The incident occurred on Burning Ember Lane in Palm Coast’s B Section.
The FCSO shared video of their negotiator speaking with 22-year-old Isaac Lewis, talking him through an ongoing mental health crisis and offering help if he turned himself over. At the conclusion of a standoff that lasted around four hours, Lewis was taken into custody.
The dispatch center was contacted just after 10:00 a.m. about a man reportedly violating a domestic violence no contact order. He was said to be parked outside the victim’s home on Burning Ember Lane. Once deputies arrived, Lewis appeared to nearly hit one of them with his Chevrolet Silverado as he drove away from the scene.
Afterward, the FCSO says Lewis returned to the residence. He is then said to have exited his truck and held a handgun to his head. At this point, he reportedly began to make threats to end his own life. The FCSO Crisis Negotiation and SWAT teams both responded to the scene.
Beginning Negotiations
The main negotiator according to the FCSO was Deputy First Class Bryan Carter, who the agency says is trained for these situations. He spoke to Lewis over the phone in an armored vehicle, able to make eye contact through the window. “I can’t have a good dude leaving this earth,” Lewis was heard saying. “We need so many good people in this world.”
The phone call between Carter and Lewis lasted for over two hours. At one point they began to FaceTime each other, talking face-to-face through their cell phones’ screens. When Lewis’ phone battery died, a SWAT team robot remotely brought him a new phone to continue the conversation.
Over the course of the negotiation the two spoke about a number of topics, establishing a rapport with one another. “I am telling you, I’ll bring you to church with me,” Carter said. “We have a men’s group every week that is just talking about being a better man.”
Taking Lewis Into Custody
ⓒ Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
During negotiations, deputies and analysts monitored the situation remotely by tapping into body cameras in real time. From there they gave information to emergency responders on-scene.
Some time shortly before 2:00 p.m., Lewis is said to have taken the magazine out of his gun and cleared out the live round of ammunition in its chamber. He then placed the firearm on the ground and allowed deputies to take him into custody.
“Deputy First Class Carter, our Crisis Negotiation and SWAT teams, and our analysts in the Real Time Crime Center worked together to save a life today. I am incredibly proud of how they de-escalated and safely resolved a very dangerous armed situation,” said Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “These are very delicate situations, but our crisis negotiators, and really all our deputies, are well-trained in de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques. They were supported by what was truly a team effort. Our crisis negotiators, deputies, SWAT team, Real Time Crime Center, and 911 dispatchers all worked together to successfully defuse the situation and achieve the best possible outcome.”
Aftermath
Lewis was booked into the Flagler County jail on two felony charges: fleeing and eluding law enforcement and following or harassing. He was also given one misdemeanor charge of obstruction without violence. As of Wednesday he remains in custody without bond. The FCSO says he’ll be receiving mental health treatment.
Before being taken to jail Lewis was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance. There, Carter visited him with a member of the FCSO’s Behavioral Response Unit.
“We pride ourselves on having a detention facility that doesn’t just house inmates but actively works to improve their lives. We offer mental health treatment through a variety of programs and partnerships with organizations in our community, so our inmates can get the help they need,” Staly added. “Although he was arrested, we hope he realizes that he essentially now has a second chance in life and uses the opportunities available in the jail to find support, move past this situation, and make the most of the rest of his life.”
