A 19-year-old Palm Coast man is behind bars after deputies say he put a gun to his girlfriend’s head, fled before officers could reach the scene, and later led deputies on a high-speed chase through East Palatka that ended with his car slamming into a median. Reginald De’George Lumpkin now faces a stack of felony charges and two outstanding warrants out of Flagler County.
According to News4JAX, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called out after Lumpkin allegedly placed a gun to his girlfriend’s head near Kelley Smith School Road. The victim managed to call for help, but Lumpkin fled the area before deputies arrived on scene.
Gas Station Encounter Sparks Pursuit
A deputy later spotted Lumpkin at a gas station in East Palatka, the outlet reports. When the deputy approached him, Lumpkin sped off instead of stopping, setting off a pursuit that sent him south on US 17 with deputies close behind.
The chase didn’t last long before it turned into a crash. Per the same account, Lumpkin lost control of his vehicle and struck the median, then abandoned the car and ran on foot, tossing a firearm as he fled. Deputies recovered the discarded weapon and took him into custody shortly after.
Hospital Visit, Then Jail Booking
Lumpkin was taken to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital as a precaution for possible crash injuries and was medically cleared, the report notes. From there he was booked into the Putnam County Jail, where he remains held without bond pending transfer to Flagler County.
The charges against him are extensive: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault on law enforcement, fleeing and eluding police at a high rate of speed, resisting an officer without violence, and evidence tampering. He also has two outstanding warrants from Flagler County, though the specific circumstances behind those warrants were not detailed in the report.
What the Charges Could Mean
Under Florida law, fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer after being ordered to stop is a third-degree felony, according to The Florida Senate. Separately, state statute also classifies aggravated assault as a third-degree felony, per The Florida Senate. With multiple felony counts and prior warrants attached to his name, Lumpkin’s case now moves toward Flagler County once the transfer from Putnam County is complete.
