“See Something, Say Something” Leads to the Arrest of Two Gainesville Residents Following Intense Standoff with FCSO on A1A and K-9 Taking a “Bite-out-of-Crime”
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Gainesville residents after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of North Ocean Shore Boulevard and Camino Del Mar Parkway in Flagler Beach.
On Monday morning, Flagler County Communications Center received a call about a U-Haul truck parked on the sidewalk under the Hammock Dunes Bridge. According to the caller, an individual was standing in front of the U-Haul and acting suspicious.
Upon arrival, an FCSO deputy located the U-Haul parked on the sidewalk beneath the bridge as the caller had described and, as he approached the vehicle, overheard a female voice yelling about money. After the deputy announced his presence, the driver closed the driver-side door, shifted the vehicle out of park, and drove forward.
The driver then stopped the vehicle but did not put it into park. The deputy then moved toward the driver’s side of the U-Haul to speak with the driver, who, after making eye contact with the deputy, drove off. The deputy then attempted to conduct a traffic stop near North Ocean Shore Boulevard and Island Estates Parkway, but the driver fled south on A1A. The Flagler Beach Police Department deployed stop sticks, successfully disabling the vehicle.
The driver, later identified as May Ling Ip, 48, of Gainesville, and her passenger, later identified as Jamie Allen Mays, 40, of Gainesville, refused to exit the vehicle for over an hour. Utilizing a drone, deputies with the FCSO Drone Unit were able to maintain visual on both suspects.
FCSO’s BearCat responded and parked in front of the U-Haul to prevent it from moving. The FCSO SWAT Team then deployed distraction devices to encourage the suspects to exit the vehicle. When the suspects refused, they utilized less-lethal devices to break the side mirrors and a Shatterball (a thrown spiked ball device) to break the driver’s-side window. The SWAT Team then deployed aerosol spray through the broken window, after which Ip exited the truck and ran toward the beach.
May Ling Ip (left) and James Allen Mays (right) (Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility mug shot)
K-9 Guapo and his handler, Corporal Andrew Cangialosi, quickly apprehended Ip, who continued to resist attempting to drag the K-9 to the beach. Ip then attempted to bite an FCSO sergeant during her arrest.
Mays refused to exit the truck so K-9 Mako was deployed into the truck. K-9 Mako convinced Mays to quickly exit the truck and surrender.
Ip was arrested for fleeing and eluding with lights and sirens activated, resisting arrest without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, attempted aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams). She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility where she awaits bond.
Mays was arrested for resisting arrest without violence. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is awaiting bond.
“These two suspects refused to obey lawful commands to exit the vehicle for over an hour, disrupting traffic and forcing us to use a significant number of resources,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Ip quickly learned that our K-9s will take a bite out of crime. Mays finally made a good decision by surrendering when the K-9 was about to bite him. I hope they enjoyed those last few drags of their cigarettes during the standoff, because they won’t be getting any at the Green Roof Inn as it’s a smoke-free hotel. I’m also very proud of our deputies for calming handling this incident and bringing it to a successful conclusion without any serious injuries. I also thank the caller who ‘saw something and said something’ as the caller was clearly right and knew something was wrong.”
Ip and Mays are no strangers to law enforcement. Ip’s criminal history includes drug possession, obstruction, trespassing and failure to appear. Mays is a registered sex offender for lewd and lascivious battery ages 12-15 and has a history of drug possession and battery.
View the body camera footage.
# # #