FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – One suspect is in custody following a high-speed chase Tuesday involving Flagler and St. Johns County deputies and a stolen Ferrari.
Officials said Johnathan Costa, 19, was inside the stolen 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider that was caught following a chase that reached speeds over 100 mph.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said it received a BOLO for the Ferrari from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office around noon. The car was later seen leaving SJC and heading to Flagler County.
Authorities tried to stop the Ferrari, but the driver took off and eventually escaped.
An hour after deputies lost sight of the Ferrari, they were able to use helicopters and other technology to track it in the Palm Coast area.
Officials said one of the deputies eventually found the Ferrari under a cover parked behind a house.
Officers said they set up a perimeter around the house where the Ferrari was found and they saw people moving in the home.
Negotiators were able to convince Costa and another person to exit the house peacefully with no force necessary.
The other man, who has not been identified, was detained for questioning, but he wasn’t charged with a crime.
Officials said the teens were wanted in connection with an armed home invasion and vehicle theft in Rhode Island.
According to FCSO, Logan Slezak was determined to not have been in the vehicle and is not believed to be in Flagler County.
Investigators are now trying to find out where the Ferrari, which had a Florida license plate, was stolen from.
Investigators said the homeowner rented the home to Costa and at least one gun was recovered from inside.
Officials said at minimum, Costa is facing a list of felony charges in Flagler County, St. Johns County, and Rhode Island.
Jesse Laspeyre described the events from his perspective.
“It got pretty serious when they got the long rifles out,” Laspeyre said. “I was like ‘Everybody it’s time to stay inside.’ So, it was a pretty exciting afternoon.”
Pedro Menendez High School and Southwoods Elementary were briefly put on lockdown as a precaution.