On Friday, October 1, 2021, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) received a ‘Be-On-the-Look Out’ (BOLO) for a Grey Mitsubishi Eclipse bearing a Florida tag traveling southbound on US-1 that was reported stolen from Orlando, Florida.
Upon receiving the BOLO an FCSO deputy observed the vehicle matching the description, traveling southbound on US-1 and began following it waiting for other deputies to respond. The vehicle began to drive recklessly and going south on Railroad Street in Bunnell and then began to accelerate. After deputies activated their emergency lights the driver continued to flee attempting to elude.
Additional units responded to assist deploying StopSticks but the vehicle continued to travel for 12 minutes despite having three tires blown-out. The vehicle finally came to a complete stop and deputies initiated a felony traffic stop. The driver was then identified as Michael Rivera (DOB: 8/11/1976).
Rivera was the only occupant of the vehicle and was secured by deputies without incident. Rivera was read his Miranda Rights and advised the deputies that he did not wish to speak. Deputies arrested Rivera and during a search discovered a clear glass pipe with burns on each end and inside the pipe was a burnt white residue and a brillo pad.
This is not Rivera’s first encounter with law enforcement. He has previously been arrested for Robbery, Possession of Marijuana, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Violation of Probation, Loitering, Larceny,
Burglary, Petit Theft, Criminal Mischief, Failure to Appear, Out-of-County-Warrant, Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, Attempted First Degree Murder, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Equipment. He has a total of 23 Felony charges and 19 Misdemeanor charges.
“This is an example of another criminal who made the mistake of coming into Flagler County,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Luckily our deputies were in the right place at the right time to get him before he could prey on our community. Based on his arrest history he needs to go to prison and throw the key away.”
Michael Rivera was arrested and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility without further incident. He was arrested for Violation of Parole, Driving While License is Suspended- with Knowledge, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement Officers with Lights and Sirens, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Equipment, and Grand Theft- Motor Vehicle. He is being held on no bond.
Media Release: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office,
Date: October 4, 2021
Prepared by: Aviva Edrich
Phone and Email: 386-281-9880; aedrich@flaglersheriff.com Release #: 2021-224
