2-day operation by Volusia County Sheriff's Office brings dozens of arrests

Deputies: 769 traffic stops conducted, 446 traffic citations issued

From left to right: Clarence Collmar, 41, Dakevian Smith, 22, and Austin Fitzsimmons, 18 (Photos courtesy of Volusia Co. Jail)

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A two-day crime sweep operation by Volusia County deputies led to over two dozen arrests, deputies said.

Operation Rolling Thunder, operated by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and involving nearly every law enforcement agency in the county, began Wednesday and lasted through Friday, according to the Sheriff's Office. Teams of officers and detectives filled designated areas of the county, looking out for and following up on criminal activity. Once suspicious activity was observed, officers worked together to catch the offenders. 

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Throughout the two-day operation, more than two dozen people were arrested on various charges. Officers conducted 769 traffic stops and issued 446 traffic citations, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Clarence Collmar, 41, was driving around Daytona Beach Wednesday evening when he drove past a license plate reader that scanned the tag of the vehicle he was driving and alerted law enforcement that it had been stolen the previous day. A deputy got behind the vehicle to confirm that it was the stolen vehicle before a Sheriff's Office helicopter flying above the car tracked its movement, deputies said.

Collmar eventually got stuck in traffic at the intersection of Mason Avenue and Nova Road, which is when officers decided to move in to arrest him, deputies said.

Officers said they found a marijuana pipe in Collmar's car. He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach and faces charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia, deputies said.

Another man who was arrested during the Sheriff's Office operation was caught driving 53 mph in a 35 mph zone Wednesday evening, deputies said. When Dakevian Smith, 22, was pulled over, officers found a loaded handgun in the glove compartment, the Sheriff's Office said. Smith was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm.

An 18-year-old man was also arrested during the operation. Deputies said Austin Fitzsimmons fled from a traffic stop. Fitzsimmons was eventually pulled over with three baggies of methamphetamine, a scale and a BB gun that looked similar to a handgun, deputies said. Fitzsimmons was charged with possession of meth with intent to sell, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, driving on a suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia, deputies said.

The Sheriff's Office said that a vehicle stolen from a car lot was also recovered during the operation. 

Deputies said there are plans to conduct future operations.