A Virginia man’s attempt to find a working restroom led straight to a jail cell on May 5 after Flagler County deputies discovered he was a wanted fugitive hiding out in Florida.
Robert Lawson, 56, was apprehended at Bull Creek Fish Camp after a suspicious vehicle investigation took a sharp turn from a trespassing warning to a felony arrest.
Deputies first spotted Lawson’s vehicle parked in front of the park’s restroom facilities. Because the camp is restricted to registered campers after hours, authorities approached the driver to verify his status.
Lawson, a Virginia resident, admitted he was not a registered guest at the site. He explained to the deputies that he was staying with a friend nearby who lacked running water and had simply stopped at the fish camp to use the facilities.
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The situation escalated quickly during a routine records check. Investigators discovered that Lawson was a designated Fugitive from Justice with three active felony warrants out of Virginia.
While taking him into custody, deputies also reportedly found methamphetamine in his pocket. Lawson was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he now awaits extradition back to his home state.
Sheriff Rick Staly noted that the county is an unwise choice for those looking to avoid the law.
“Another fugitive found out the hard way they should not have come to Flagler County,” Staly said following the arrest. “Hope he enjoys his stay at the Green Roof Inn and his ride back to Virginia.”
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