Daytona Beach News

Daytona Beach residents are sounding the alarm over the rapid expansion of Flock cameras across the city, with many saying the system has quietly shifted from a public‑safety tool into a growing private‑sector surveillance network. As more cameras appear on major roads, neighborhood entrances, and commercial corridors, questions about data ownership, access, and long‑term implications are becoming impossible to ignore.

The Daytona Beach Police Department is facing renewed scrutiny after officials confirmed that 84 aging vehicles remain in active service, including 2011 Ford Crown Victorias and 2014 Chevrolet Impalas. The revelation has sparked concerns about safety, maintenance costs, and the city’s long‑term fleet management strategy.

A troubled Holly Hill residence has been boarded up after a multi‑agency narcotics investigation uncovered drugs, a firearm, and hazardous living conditions that prompted immediate action from law enforcement and city officials.

A private parcel of land off DeBary Avenue in Enterprise is undergoing a long‑overdue cleanup after deputies discovered it had been overtaken by trash, drug activity, and unauthorized encampments. The property, owned by an 80‑year‑old woman who lives out of town, had become nearly unrecognizable as piles of debris and makeshift shelters spread across the grounds. She has been hoping to sell the land, but the worsening conditions made that impossible.

Volusia County is preparing for one of the most significant upgrades to its emergency response infrastructure in decades, moving ahead with plans to convert a former automotive dealership into a new, centralized headquarters for Volusia County Emergency Medical Services. The decision, approved this week by county leadership, marks a major investment in public safety, workforce development, and long‑term operational efficiency for one of the region’s most essential services.

A fleeing carjacking suspect who led law enforcement on a dangerous, high‑speed chase across Volusia County is now in custody after crashing into oncoming traffic on State Road 44 near the New Smyrna Beach Walmart.

A Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy — recently honored as Deputy of the Year — is facing scrutiny after Florida Highway Patrol troopers clocked him riding his personal motorcycle at 111 miles per hour on State Road 528 last weekend. Despite the speed falling well within the threshold of Florida’s “Super Speeder” criminal statute, troopers chose not to arrest him, issuing only a citation.

A Daytona Beach police officer has been fired following an internal investigation into a use‑of‑force encounter earlier this year, a case that began as a simple open‑container stop and spiraled into one of the city’s most debated policing incidents of 2026.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is raising serious concerns after a judge removed a key bond condition in a major international fraud case—allowing a reality‑TV personality accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a local resident to walk free without proving her bail money was legally obtained.

Florida’s political landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift as Republicans continue to outperform Democrats across key voting metrics, reshaping what was once considered one of America’s most competitive battleground states.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Child Exploitation Unit has arrested 31‑year‑old Oliver Almonte (DOB: 7/30/1995) of Deltona, concluding a disturbing investigation into allegations he repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with an underage girl — and possibly more victims.