Deputies, Sheriff Catch Stolen Rental Van

Bunnell, FL – On Wednesday (March 10th), the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) was alerted about a stolen minivan that had just crossed into the county from Volusia. Thankfully, Sheriff Rick Staly was there to spot the van as it crossed the county line. A report from FCSO says Sheriff Staly was finishing up a traffic stop when he spotted the 2020 Chrysler minivan—which was reported stolen out of Connecticut—as it drove northbound on US-1 towards Bunnell. Staly soon drove in behind the vehicle and relayed its location to dispatch so deputies could prepare a StopStick trap ahead of the vehicle. The trap was set near the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center and was successful in deflating the van’s passenger side tires. It eventually came to a stop on Moody Boulevard. Deputies then approached the vehicle and found 70-year-old Stephen Allen Nichols as its sole occupant. According to their report, Nicols claimed that the vehicle was a rental and he had paid for it; that much was true. But then deputies then made a call to an Enterprise Rental car location in Waterbury, Connecticut, who confirmed that the vehicle was rented on January 8th and was due back on January 10th. By March 1st, the vehicle was reported stolen by the company. Waterbury police confirmed the report. “I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was able to keep eyes on the vehicle until we could safely conduct a felony traffic stop,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. Nichols was subsequently arrested and charged with grand theft auto. He remains in custody with bond set at $2,500, per a release from FCSO.