BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who committed multiple thefts in the Daytona North area of western Flagler County, aka the Mondex, after he ran from deputies and was apprehended by a K-9.

On Dec. 15, deputies responded to a reported vehicle burglary in Daytona North. According to the victim, his truck had been stolen overnight. The victim stated that his truck had been stolen in the past by a man named Jake Kasica, and he had previously recovered it at a residence on Holly Lane. With this information, the victim went to the same residence to attempt to find his truck.

There, the victim located his truck, with a man whom he believed to be Kasica still inside it. When the victim confronted him, the suspect fled in the truck. The victim then followed the suspect and attempted to chase him down before eventually stopping and contacting law enforcement. Based on the previous incident reported by the victim and his belief that Kasica stole the truck, deputies began to search the area for the suspect.

At the same time, deputies investigating a residential burglary reported in the same community observed the stolen truck slowly pass and park behind a residence on Fruit Avenue. Multiple units including the General Assignment, Problem Area Crime Enforcement, and K-9 units responded to investigate and establish a perimeter to search for the suspect.

During the search, a PACE Unit detective observed a suspect who matched Kasica’s description riding a bicycle and carrying fishing poles on Water Oak Road. As the detective passed, the suspect attempted to conceal his face from being seen. The detective then turned around to make contact with him, however the suspect fled into the nearby woods.

Deputies and a K-9 Unit responded to where the suspect was last seen. Deputies made announcements for the suspect to surrender, which he refused. After less than 30 seconds of tracking, K-9 Uno located the suspect hiding in the undergrowth and apprehended him with a bite to the right arm. Deputies then secured the suspect, later confirmed to be Kasica, 23, of Palm Coast.

“This guy should have immediately surrendered, but when he didn’t K-9 Uno took a bite out of crime,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “K-9 Uno gets an extra treat today.”

Deputies then searched the area where Kasica had been apprehended. There, they found a sunglasses container with hypodermic needles, cotton wrapped in tinfoil, and a small plastic bag containing a gray powdery substance, which later tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. Deputies also found a bag nearby containing fishing equipment, a trail camera, and ammunition, alongside the fishing poles the detective had previously seen Kasica carrying.

As Kasica was being assessed by paramedics for the dog bite, two passersby stopped and told deputies they recognized the bicycle and other items and believed they belonged to them. While speaking to deputies, the two victims provided photographs from the trail camera which showed Kasica on their property burglarizing a barn and stealing the items.

Deputies arrested Kasica for grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft ($750 to $5K), possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer without violence. After being taken to AdventHealth Palm Coast for treatment of his dog bite, he was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.

View body camera footage from Kasica’s arrest.

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