A Palm Coast man who slipped away from deputies after telling them he would meet them at home has been arrested, bringing a countywide crackdown to an end.
Deputies arrested 58-year-old Warren Franklin in New Smyrna Beach on Sept. 21, completing the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office operation known as “Operation Offenders: Endgame.” His arrest means authorities have now captured all of the targets identified in the sweep.
The case began when deputies visited Franklin’s registered address in Palm Coast to verify where he lived. They found that no one was living at the residence, and Franklin had not informed officials that he had moved. Investigators then checked another address in the city and discovered that Franklin had been staying with his girlfriend in DeLand.
Detectives eventually reached Franklin by phone. He said he was working and told them he would meet them at the house later that evening. When deputies arrived at the agreed-upon time, however, Franklin was nowhere to be found.
They called Franklin again, and he answered, saying he was driving and would arrive shortly. When he still did not show up, detectives tried reaching him for a third time, but the call went unanswered. After determining that Franklin had fled, authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging him with two counts of failing to properly register as a sex offender.
The Flagler County Fugitive Apprehension Unit tracked Franklin to a home in New Smyrna Beach. Deputies worked with local police to surround the residence and take him into custody. Authorities booked Franklin into the Volusia County Branch Jail, where officials set his bond at $50,500.
“This pervert lasted longer on the run than any of the others, but in the end they all learned the same thing: The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is inevitable, and you always get caught,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Operation Offenders: Endgame has officially concluded with 45 arrests, and it was a rousing success thanks to the great work of our team and our law enforcement partners. This last pervert, who is a career offender that knows he must register but refuses to comply, needs to not pass go and go directly to prison.”
Court and jail records indicate that Franklin has 35 prior felony arrests and 20 convictions. His criminal record includes burglary with battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession and several previous charges related to failing to register.
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