Johnathan Costa, a 19-year-old resident of Rhode Island, was arrested in Flagler County on Tuesday after having been caught with an allegedly stolen Ferrari 488 Spider that was driven away from a home invasion. The law enforcement pursuit of Costa created a large tactical infrastructure that briefly closed parts of US-1 and I-95.
The pursuit became a Flagler County issue at around noon on Tuesday when the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received a notice from the St. Johns County Sheriff Office that a fugitive was en route in a stolen blue Ferrari from Rhode Island. Costa was accused of having stolen the Ferrari in an armed home invasion in the city of Cranston, and so the Cranston Police Department advised that he was considered armed and dangerous.
FCSO deputies located the car as it entered Flagler County and immediately began to attempt a traffic stop. The Ferrari fled from the deputies reportedly at over 100 miles per hour. That’s when major roads were shut down, and stop sticks were placed in anticipation of where the driver may go. The chase went into the heart of Palm Coast, with deputies losing their visual on the car as it went past Belle Terre Elementary School. Several units mobilized to regain a location on the Ferrari, including the SJSO Main One helicopter, Flagler County Fire Rescue’s FireFlight helicopter, and personnel with Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the FCSO’s summary of the pursuit, they deduced that Costa knew someone who lived on Royal Palm Lane, and surmised that he may have gone there to hide. Upon reaching the residence, the Ferrari was parked in the grass having apparently been concealed with tarps. It was still visible from the road. After deputies established a perimeter around the house and ordered Costa to exit he did so, and was arrested.
Costa was booked into the county jail shortly after 6:00 pm on Tuesday, charged with being a fugitive from justice. His Rhode Island charges include entering a dwelling with felonious intent, armed violent crime, and conspiracy. He’s being held without bond, and further charges in Flagler County are possible pending a further investigation.
“Time and time again, criminals make the mistake of entering Flagler County,” said Sheriff Rick Staly, “but it’s not every day they do it in a stolen Ferrari. So let this be a lesson…not even a Ferrari is fast enough to escape from the law. This criminal clearly had no regard for others as he traveled at extremely dangerous speeds, even through a school zone, and put everyone on the road around him in danger. Thankfully, our deputies and partners are well-trained and I’m glad he was captured before his joyride turned fatal.”
