After recapture, Flagler Sheriff's Office to begin review of how inmate escaped

Deputies believe Anthony Romine, 29, faked an injury at the jail in order to be sent to hospital so he could possibly escape, a FCSO press release said.

By Observer Staff
| 3:30 p.m. July 30, 2024

Palm Coast Observer
News

For seven hours on July 27, a Flagler County Sheriff's Office inmate managed to escape custody while at the State Road 100 AdventHealth hospital.

Anthony Romine, 29, was brought to the hospital after he fell at the county jail, a FCSO press release said. At around 6:30 a.m., the FCSO notified the public through social media that Romine had escaped from the hospital.

Romine took off on foot form the hospital and was tracked by FCSO's K-9 unit to the woods by the Amoco gas station near the southbound ramp at Interstate 95 and S.R. 100, where he was hiding under foliage, the press release said. After seven hours, he was taken back into custody.

Deputies investigating Romine's escape later determined that Romine had faked an injury in order to attempt to escape back to Ohio, his home state, the press release said.

Now that Romine is back in custody, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said the FCSO will begin a review of the incident to determine both how Romine escaped and how the deputy assigned to Romine was distracted.

Romine was originally arrested on July 3 on a felony warrant for petit theft, violation of release, and two counts of counterfeit, the press release said. He was apprehended the second time with an additional felony warrant for his escape, as well as additional charges of battery on an officer and resisting without violence.