Palm Coast, United States - August 27, 2024

A dramatic end to a high-speed chase unfolded in Palm Coast on August 27 evening when 19-year-old Johnathan Costa, suspected in an armed home invasion in Rhode Island, was arrested. Costa, driving a stolen blue Ferrari 488 Spyder, led law enforcement on a chase that ended with his apprehension outside a residence on Royal Palm Lane.

The chase began in St. Johns County when Costa evaded deputies, but the pursuit continued into Flagler County. Sheriff's officials later located the Ferrari, valued between $219,000 to over $340,000, hidden under a tree in a backyard using a helicopter's heat signature detection.

Flagler County Sheriff Chief David Williams described the chase as involving speeds over 100 mph on Belle Terre Parkway, where the speed limit is 45 mph. Despite the high speeds, the decision to pursue was based on the absence of active school zones and appropriate traffic conditions, given the severity of the crime - a forcible felony.

During the incident, some schools in Flagler County were placed on a "hold" as a precaution, which was lifted once the vehicle was no longer a threat on public roads.

Costa, who was renting the house on Royal Palm Lane, was taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported. The property, owned by someone from Miami according to records, had not been searched at the time of the arrest, though authorities were aware of at least one firearm inside.

Local resident Kim Harrell, who witnessed the arrest from across the street, expressed relief and concern, having secured her children in a back room due to fears of gunfire. "It was insane," she remarked about the intense police activity outside her home.