On January 23rd, 2026, Flagler County deputies investigated a hit-and-run in Palm Coast, Florida, tracing a white Mazda from a crash scene to a private residence, and ending with a taser deployment and arrest. Three distinct legal issues define this case. You think he wants to go to the hospital? See how you're doing. Are you a little tender? Yeah, my knees are a little messed Can you describe the pain to me that you're having when you walk? Is it like a sharp pain? Yeah, sharp pain. Okay, just below your knee? Yeah. Where was she coming from? What direction? She was sitting right here. >> She was sitting here, and where were you? I was riding it down here. >> So, you were coming across, and then she pulled in and hit you from the side? She hit me broadside. Okay. >> I was cutting across, and she just She took off, too. Sir, what happened here today? Um going across, and there was a person out in the road. And a white RV, and they just hit me broadside. >> An RV? Yeah. No, SUV. An SUV? Did you see if like what kind of make, model it was? >> just white. It's just white? Was it new or older? It was newer. It was newer? Yeah. Okay. Uh did it have any stickers on it, any damage? >> Not that I'm I didn't see it. You didn't see like Ford, Nissan, Chevy? And then they put Ford Okay. I went down and >> What part of the crosswalk were you in? Right Right here, right here. Right there? Okay. So, they struck you, and then they took off that way? Yeah. Okay. Hello. Did you just come from the area of uh Palm Coast We're just on Palm Coast Parkway over there? I was on the other side, and I made a left on here and came in here through there. Okay. You're on the left-hand side? >> I was over there coming towards the bridge, and made a left on that block to get here. Okay. >> Whatever that block is. Okay. All right, thank you. I don't think any of these are involved. We're just going to get the tag off that Chevy over there. Has it been on scene yet? No. All right, if you could just head over real quick. Do you want a crash report completed for your injuries and your damage to your bike? You don't want one? Okay. >> And you're absolutely certain that you don't want to go to the hospital with us? I I'm not going to force you to do anything. Right. But my just My concern is it's going to get worse. So, at the very least, you got to go get it x-rayed. Yeah, I can probably go get it x-rayed. So, you just want to come with us? No, yeah. I just I want to get home is what I want to See if I can get home. So, are you planning to ride this bike home or No, it's the I would have ridden it. If the chain was on, I would have ridden it. All right, listen, Dave. So, we'll get a refusal from you, but listen, if it if it gets worse, you should call us back. We're literally right over there. Yeah, so just call us back. We'll take you to the hospital. Did you want to file a report and make sure it's documented with them or no? What difference does it make? It's not going to do any good. For what? I mean, you know what I'm saying? You never know what's going to come of it, so but if you don't, perfectly up to you. Right. Is your bike going to start? No. Do you still need a ride? I can go back home and get the truck. >> [cheering] >> I don't know how I'm going to get home with if I don't. I can I can drive you home, you know that. I You know I know practically where you live. I don't know. Yeah. So, I'll go get the truck. And I don't know if we can get it in there, that's fine. If we You guys aren't strong enough, I guess we'll have to leave the bike until you can get some other arrangement, but if we get it in my truck, You have a truck? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I mean, that's up to you. If you want to do that, you're more than welcome to do that. That's I'm not going to be >> I'll be right back. Is that okay with you, sir? Thank you. Of course. Are you the owner, sir? Hello. Deputy with the Sheriff's Office. Are uh you or Daniella home? No, sir. She's in New York, and I'm at work for the city. Okay. Um do you know who would be driving the white Mazda that's registered to this address? Uh that would be her mother who's got the car while my wife's away. Okay. Um can I call She lives on uh Beaver Dam, not too far from there. Beaver Dam? All right. What's her first name? Uh Lydia. L I D I A? Yes, sir. Uh it might be L Y. Uh it it's one of the one or the other, but I believe it's L I. L I D I A? Yes. Okay, or Y. Do you know what her approximate age is? Um I would say she's about 64, 65. The house identical to mine, except it's gray in color. Um and if, you know, the the the Mazda The Mazda should be in the driveway if she's home. With these directions, they go a few streets over and immediately find the car sitting in the driveway. Yeah, the damage. Traffic 10, that's traffic 13. Yeah, it's here in the driveway. All right, I'm not going to make contact until you get here. It's going to be Beaver Dam Lane. Yeah, I'm rolling, by the way. And there's some damage underneath. Yeah, it's So, um the resident there told me that it's either Lydia, his mother, In-law? Uh or it's Lydia's brother who is a 400-lb schizophrenic. I mean, I'm looking at this. Yeah. It almost looks like maybe it was washed, and then like but you see like where it's kind of covered up right there. Yeah, I mean, there's some damage there. I mean, I see a lot of this here. This has been covered up. Let's say it could be a whiteout or something like that. I'm Deputy Lane with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Are you Lydia? Yes. Okay. Is that your daughter's vehicle there? >> Yes, yes. Okay. Um who would have access to it today? I Who was Do you know who would have been driving it this morning? >> You only drive it? Were you driving this morning? Yes. What happened this morning? Okay. Were you were Are you were involved in a collision? Collision? A crash with a bike? You know anything about that? Okay. Let me just read you something real quick. All right, like I said, I'm Deputy Lane with the Sheriff's Office. I'm investigating a hit-and-run. Uh you have the right to remain silent. Anything you >> I call my daughter because she speak English very well, and you can speak because I don't understand everything, you know? I want to get I understand that good. Okay. Do you mind if I come in with you? No, I got the the phone. Yeah, do you mind if I come in with you? Yeah, yeah, you Okay. Oh, I got I got the dog. Oh, the dog? Yes. All right. I'll just hang out right here, all right? With what? Okay, one minute. Okay. How many people are in the house right now? Is it just you? Is it your Yeah, it's a me, my son, and my and my mother-in-law you tell me because I worry, you know? Okay. All right, if you want to call your daughter, I'll just stand over here as well. No, what What happened this morning? Yeah, I'll get to that in a second. I just got to read you something before I ask any more questions. Do you want to just We can stay in the shade over here. She wasn't answering uh her husband. Do you have any >> No, my husband not his dad. No, no, no, no. Her husband, your daughter's husband. He wasn't answering as well. >> at work. He's Moment, one moment. >> Okay. He said they called me. Daniella? Issue one. Miranda and language access. Deputy Lane read Miranda warnings in English to Lydia, a suspect who had clearly stated she does not understand English. Under Miranda versus Arizona, 1966, the advisement must be effectively communicated, not merely recited. The deputy then relied on Lydia's daughter, reached by phone from New York, as interpreter. This creates two compounding problems. Daniella is not a certified interpreter, and she has a direct interest in the outcome as the vehicle's registered owner. Any statement Lydia made after this advisement carries a serious suppression risk. Yeah. All right. This is Deputy Lane with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Uh what was your mom just talking to you now when you when you're talking in Spanish? Uh something with my car. Okay, what what What did she say about your car? Yep, that you're asking her if someone touched the car. Yeah, yeah. And I said And I said, "Where's my car?" Yeah, that's >> Cuz I'm driving right now. I'm actually driving right now to the airport. I got you. Yeah, so we're investigating an incident that happened uh earlier this morning. I got to read her her Miranda rights. Um are you >> my mom My mom hasn't driven the car. Okay, she hasn't driven it today? No, she has a phone call. Okay, who would have been driving the Mazda today then? Well, I left it there, so it be parked at the house. Okay, somebody was Somebody was driving it today. It was involved in a hit and run. Someone got into a car accident? Yes. Did she mention anything about that to you? Oh, no. No. Did she mention anybody driving it other than her? She told me just before she called ma'am ma'am give me a second. She told me ma'am just before she called you she told me that she drives it. No, not today. I drive this car but not today. Okay. But she I have another car. I'm going to read her her Miranda rights, okay? Um if she Ask her again if someone drove the car. Okay, I have to read her her Miranda rights so she understands that you know she doesn't have to answer specific questions. It's it's a part of my questioning. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, I'm investigating something right now. Ma'am, can you come over here? No, no. Can you can you come over here? Okay. All right. I'm I'm going to Okay, I'm going to I'm going to read it out loud and if she has any questions she can she can ask you and then she can ask me. All right. So, like I said before I'm definitely with the sheriff's office and I'm investigating a hit and run. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Uh do you understand your rights as I've explained them to you, ma'am? Um but I have to translate. I'm asking if she understood anything I said. No, she doesn't. Okay. All right. All right, tell her what I just told you then. Okay. Okay, does she understand what I just what what I told to you? Okay. All right, with those with what I said is she still unwilling to answer my questions? Well, no because it's this is really difficult cuz I'm always there to take care of stuff like this or help others or you understand? >> Okay, well she I need a I need a verbal yes or no from her and I No, no because she wouldn't be answering you correctly unless I'm there. Well, you can translate. Yeah, but this seems weird. No, no. I'm not there. This is making me uncomfortable. No. Okay. Ma'am, do you wish to speak to me? Do you have to translate that? No, you can Well, are you Are you still willing to speak to me though and answer my questions is what I'm asking. Okay. I don't want to get a mistake if or you know. Okay. All right. All right. So, who else resides here with your mother? My sister and my brother. Okay. Are your sister and your bro your son are your kids here right now? No, my used to be. I think I think my sister is here but he doesn't drive. He just has an ID. He can disable it too. >> Okay, so who's here right now? My Should I do that? I'm there is she or should I go and see her or what do I do? See. See. See. See. Okay. Is it uh okay. I let you read it. Okay, the house is Okay, who who is here right now with your mother? My my sister and my brother. Okay, your sister and brother are in the house currently right now. Yeah, they disabled disabled. Okay, how old's your sister? Uh 47. 47? Okay. >> Yeah. All right. Um She disabled. So, here's what happened. Your car was involved in a hit and run. We're trying to figure out who was driving, okay? Somebody was obviously driving it because I mean there is there's proof of it throughout the county and there's also fresh damage to it and camera footage. I'm just trying to figure out who was doing this. Okay. I understand. >> now that we have your vehicle it's going to get entered in as into a long form and your insurance is going to find out that it was involved in a hit and run. Okay. So, what? Ultimately. Yeah, and we're going to end up towing it cuz it's evidence in a crime. I I understand. Yeah, but can I handle it with the insurance? No, your insurance is going to find out that it was involved in a hit and run. Please stay out of the vehicle. Oh, okay. Okay, your insurance is going to find out that it was involved in a in a hit and run and they're not going to be too happy. Would it would it somebody moved it? Would it Somebody moved it. Somebody drove it today. Yeah, but what happened? I want to I want to ask you. Somebody had gotten into a crash. Okay, she said somebody? Yeah. Yes? Yeah. And then the other people what is the So, my brother he has mental illness but he doesn't have a license to drive. Okay. Um so you know mentally lately he's not all that well. Can I take responsibility for the car accident? No, you can't cuz you're not here. You have another people? Um with other people, yeah. So, we we're trying to figure out who was driving the car when this happened. We know we have pictures and camera footage of it driving down the road. That's why I'm just trying to question her. I'm just trying to figure out who was driving it. If it was her if it was your brother if it was if it was maybe your sister. I just I I got to She she just has an ID. Um Well, ma'am so no so she so she didn't mention that anybody was maybe out and about. No, she Okay, because my brother has mental illness we don't know if he he leaves through the side. We don't know he comes and goes. We don't know if he took the keys and used it. All right. Can you just ask your mom if she's aware if any if if either her or your siblings took the car out today? Okay. Yes. Okay, normally he takes our their car the right one. They have a Hyundai. So, she doesn't know if he did or not. Okay, so she she has no No, but she's typically in the kitchen. Okay, so she has just one second. She has no knowledge that either her or your siblings drove this car today. But she's also claiming that she wasn't driving this car. Correct. Okay. Uh so your brother is named Andrea Matranga, correct? Correct. Okay, what's his middle initial? All right, I'm going to give the phone back to your mom. Might as well talk to them and see if they say anything. I'm going to talk to Carmela first cuz I don't think she was the one who was driving. She only has an ID card and see if she can provide a statement and then see if he's I mean the everybody who knows the son so they have mental issues. So. Just just hold on. Hello. Hey Andrea, is your sister home? No, she's at work. Your sister isn't here? Carmela? She's not here? It's just you? Yeah. Okay. No, there was no accident. Okay, were you driving today? >> No, I wasn't driving. Hey, can you can you stop? Please. Oh, okay. Okay. All right, so you weren't driving today whatsoever. No. You weren't involved in the collision. No. Okay. I just got to read you something. I'm a deputy with the sheriff's office and investigating a hit and run. Um you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say uh can and will be used as evidence against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you now uh while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer one will be appointed to Okay, no just one second. I'm just I'm still reading you something. Hey hey hey. Don't touch me. Hold [laughter] on. Don't touch me. Hey, hold on. It's my property. Don't touch me. Don't touch me. ANDREA IT'S NOT MY CAR. NO, NO. IT'S SOMEONE hit on the side. IT'S NOT MY FAULT. OKAY, ANDREA JUST COME JUST COME OUTSIDE. I WILL FIGHT THE POLICE MYSELF. Leave my property right now. Ma'am, CAN YOU LEAVE MY PROPERTY RIGHT NOW. OKAY. LEAVE MY PROPERTY RIGHT I NEED TO I WASN'T DRIVING TODAY. YOU SAID I NEED I WASN'T DRIVING TODAY. You said other things. I'm asking you to leave my property. No, leave my property, sir. Leave my property. No, come on. NO, [laughter] NO. DON'T TOUCH ME. LISTEN, [screaming] MA'AM STEP OUT OF THE YOU'RE LYING. I WASN'T DRIVING TODAY. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I need to calm down. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS. I WAS NOT DRIVING. SIR, CALM DOWN. OKAY, YOU NEED TO step out of the way. Ma'am, step out [laughter] of the way. Calm down. NO. >> [laughter] >> ISSUE TWO, warrantless arrest inside a private residence. Under Payton versus New York 1980, officers generally cannot enter a home to make a warrantless arrest. The Fourth Amendment protection at the threshold of a private home is among the strongest in constitutional law. The exigent circumstances exception can override Payton, but it requires more than mere inconvenience. Here, Andre Matanga's active physical resistance in the doorway combined with a felony charge under Florida statute section 316.027 likely satisfies the threshold. However, a defense motion to suppress is the predictable first move at trial. Issue three, Taser force against a subject with mental illness. Under Graham versus Connor, 1989, force is evaluated by objective reasonableness, not hindsight. The relevant factors here, the severity of the underlying felony, whether the subject posed an immediate threat, and whether he was actively resisting. Andre Matanga weighed approximately 413 lb, was actively combative, and had documented schizophrenia. Lesser force options had already been exhausted verbally. Multiple Taser deployments while significant fall within the legally defensible range under these specific facts. The force was proportional to the resistance presented. Deputy Lane receives a B plus. The investigation was efficient and professionally executed. Camera identification, rapid probable cause development, and consistent de-escalation attempts throughout. The Miranda language access failure is the one significant procedural vulnerability, not a tactical error, but a legal one with real consequences for the prosecution. Lydia receives a B minus. She correctly invoked her right to remain silent once Miranda was administered, the right legal decision. However, her initial admission to driving the vehicle made before any rights advisement during a consensual encounter is admissible and damaging. Andre Matanga receives a C. Verbal assertion of innocence is a legal right. Physical resistance to a lawful arrest is not. Battery on a law enforcement officer under Florida statute section 784.07 is a standalone felony independent of whether he was the driver. His mental illness is relevant to disposition, not to the lawfulness of the force used to restrain him. Key lessons from this case, first, language access is not a courtesy, it is a constitutional requirement. Departments operating in communities with non-English speakers must have certified telephonic interpreter protocols ready at the scene, not improvised through family members mid-investigation. Second, when a known subject has documented mental illness, a crisis intervention team response is the tactically and legally superior option, reducing force risk, and strengthening the admissibility of any subsequent arrest. Third, the doorway is a constitutional boundary. Officers must understand the Payton doctrine before crossing that threshold. Exigency is a legal standard, not a tactical instinct. The absence of a warrant here is defensible, but only barely, and only because of the act of resistance that created the exigency. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic that you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching. Yeah. So, they'll they'll take care of the medical issues that he has going on, but then he'll go to our jail for processing there. And then I would I would give this probably until tomorrow morning because it's going to take a while. He's going to have to go to the hospital, he's going to have to be cleared, and then based on his his demeanor right now, the jail is not going to process him in his his No, he's in bad shape. Yeah. Yeah. Shortly after they take him to the hospital. Everything's all taken care of. All we The only thing that's left is for you to get in the in the bus. Once you get in there, we can get you back home and get you a cigarette. Can I sit in the front with you? >> can't. You can't. I can't breathe in there. I have no All right. I've got too much stuff in my pockets. There's too much stuff up there. You can't sit there. But look, there's a ton of room. There's no There's no window. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's the whole design. >> This ain't the playground, buddy. We're going in there. So, let's stand up, please. >> You can if you want to I mean, we can try to put you in the the larger area in the back. But if there's no windows there, either. I I think this is bigger than the You can Right here? No, can you keep me You sit in the corner over there? Can you keep me in the hospital? No. We can't keep you Yeah. We got to have you go back there. This is actually This is actually the better seat. Well, it's going to be a short ride, and then you can get a cigarette. When you Once you get home. No, can I speak with her now? Not right now. Not right now, no. No, once you get home. But the faster you get in there, the faster you can talk to your mom. You got to You got to go. Come Stand up. Come on. Be all right. Step up. Come on. There you go. All right, you got it. You got it. You got to keep going. Someone should get in there. Yeah. Sounds about right. Yeah, yeah, once you sit down, we'll get in there. I'll get in there with you. You got that whole corner. Look at all that room you got. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on. Come on. Up and in. There we go. Bingo. Yeah, we're coming. We're coming. Don't worry. You don't need to strap him in. I don't think the straps fit around him. Okay, I mean, it's it's on you, so I don't know what your policy say or All right. I'll meet you down there. Officer, don't touch me. Don't touch me. ANDRE IT'S NOT MY CAR. NO, NO, it's your car. It's someone hit on the side. It's not my fault. Andre No, no, it's my No. >> [laughter] >> It's my property right now. Leave. LEAVE MY PROPERTY RIGHT NOW. I wasn't driving today. You said other things. Leave my property. No, leave my property, sir. Leave my property. NO. >> [laughter] >> NO, NO, NO, NO. DON'T TOUCH ME. LISTEN. SIR, CALM DOWN, OKAY? I can't LEAVE MY PROPERTY. STOP. CALM DOWN. TASER. NO, NO, NO.