Palm Coast Teen Arrested for Firearm Theft

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced they arrested 16-year-old Harley Spare on Tuesday for allegedly stealing a gun for his mother. The arrest stemmed from an incident on May 29th in which Spare told law enforcement that he’d been robbed at gunpoint by other teenagers.

The original incident occurred when Spare reportedly brought his mother’s gun with him to meet up with friends in Palm Coast’s European Village. The FCSO said he did so trying to use it as a status symbol within their social dynamic. He was said to have been sitting in a parked vehicle with Chimale Santiago-Thomas and Nico Johnson, both 16, when those two teens were accused of pointing a gun at Spare’s head and telling him to give them his money. He was also reportedly made to hand over his mother’s gun.

Santiago-Thomas and Johnson were arrested the same day of that incident after their vehicle was pulled over for a traffic stop in Palm Coast’s L Section. Deputies reportedly found two handguns and marijuana in a backpack inside their vehicle. Johnson was charged with accessory after the fact, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a minor. Santiago-Thomas was arrested for grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor, armed robbery, and violation of probation. Both were booked into the county jail before being transferred into the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Further investigation of the incident by FCSO detectives led to the determination that Spare had also committed criminal activity. He has now been charged with grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor. Like the other teens, he was booked into the county jail and then transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most common way that young school shooters obtain firearms is through their family members. Furthermore, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reported in September that firearms continue to be the leading cause of death for ages 1-17 in America, ahead of causes such as vehicle accidents and cancer.

“All three teens involved in this care are being held accountable for their bad choices,” said Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “This situation could have ended in tragedy. Parents, be the sheriff of your own home and lock up your firearms. Keeping guns out of the wrong hands starts at home and is one of the most important things you can do to keep your family and our community safe.”