Thieves caught, Ferrari recovered in Palm Coast after cross-country chase, officials say

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - Two thieves are now in custody after a stolen Ferrari Spider, linked to an out-of-state crime, was found at a home in Palm Coast after a cross-country chase, officials said. 

Earlier on Tuesday, deputies announced a multi-county search for 19-year-old Johnathan Costa and 18-year-old Logan Slezak, who are wanted in connection to an armed home invasion and vehicle theft in Rhode Island. The suspects, who were considered "armed and dangerous" during the search, have been accounted for, according to a new update from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

Costa was arrested in Palm Coast after a 20-minute negotiation with deputies. At first, law enforcement believed Costa was traveling with Slezak, but detectives determined Slezak wasn't present and was believed to still have been in Rhode Island. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said Slezak turned himself into the North Providence Police Department and was taken into custody by the Cranston Police Department within hours of Costa's arrest. 

The Ferrari, which was found tucked behind trees and under a tarp at a home on Royal Palm Lane at around 3 p.m., has been recovered.

"Unfortunately for him, the vehicle was still fully visible from the roadway," the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. 

Detectives learned that Costa had a friend who lived in the home on Royal Palm Lane.

Investigators will now search the car and the home to see what else they find out. 

Costa allegedly led deputies in both St. Johns County and Flagler County on high-speed chases down Interstate 95, reaching speeds of over 100 mph at one point, officials said. Schools in both counties were placed on preventative lockdown and on hold amid the search.

Sheriff Rick Staly issued the following statement regarding the incident:

"Time and time again, criminals make the mistake of entering Flagler County, but it’s not every day they do it in a stolen Ferrari. So let this be a lesson… not even a Ferrari is fast enough to escape from the law. This criminal clearly had no regard for others as he traveled at extremely dangerous speeds, even through a school zone, and put everyone on the road around him in danger. Thankfully, our deputies and partners are well-trained and I’m glad he was captured before his joyride turned fatal. Frankly, he’s lucky to be behind bars in the Green Roof Inn instead of dead behind the wheel or facing even more serious charges."

What happened in Rhode Island?

The Cranston Police Department in Rhode Island released information on Tuesday afternoon about the armed home invasion and vehicle burglary that happened before the suspect made his way to Florida. Cranston is located about 5 miles south of Providence, the state's capital. 

At around 3:20 a.m. Saturday, police officers were dispatched to a home after a home invasion was reported. Two masked males, identified as Costa and Slezak, who were armed with handguns made their way into a home through an unlocked door, police said. 

The two men, from Cranston and Pawtucket, respectively, allegedly and successfully demanded the keys to the homeowner's Ferrari Spider and Chevrolet Corvette. 

"It was clear that the suspects had intimate knowledge about the residence and the vehicles they were seeking," police said. "It was clear from the onset that this was not a random act, as the suspects targeted the victims and specific vehicles."

The Corvette was found untouched nearby, where the owner parked it, but the Ferrari made a different journey. 

Stolen Ferrari crosses state lines amid search, police say

The day after the Ferrari was reported stolen, police cameras spotted the vehicle, but officers were unable to locate it. Other law enforcement agencies also saw the Ferrari, but attempts to stop it were unsuccessful. 

This led to a high-speed chase through Rhode Island, Connecticut, and into New York.

On Tuesday afternoon, a license plate reader alerted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to the Ferrari's location, police said. Deputies attempted to pull the car over, but the driver allegedly sped away. 

The vehicle was later tracked by helicopter to a Palm Coast home, where it was found hidden under a tarp with no one inside.

Costa was taken into custody after a 20-minute negotiation with deputies outside the home, according to a spokesperson for the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. 

How are the teen suspects linked to the home invasion victims?

As law enforcement tried to locate the stolen Ferrari, detectives were working to identify the suspects and how they're linked to the home invasion victims. 

Either Costa or Slezak has an "indirect connection" to one of the residents where the Ferrari was stolen from. 

He had been inside the home before and knew where the keys to both the Ferrari and Corvette were kept. 

No other details about the connection have been released at this time. 

Driver arrested at Palm Coast home

Costa was arrested outside the home on Royal Palm Lane at around 3:15 p.m. 

In the video, Costa told deputies he "has no idea" where Slezak is, adding that he's "not in Florida." Detectives later learned that Slezak was in custody in Rhode Island after turning himself in. 

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office released bodycam video of the arrest on Wednesday. You can watch it below:

What will teen suspects be charged with?

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Costa was arrested as a fugitive from justice out of Rhode Island with entering a dwelling with felonious intent, using a firearm when committing a crime of violence and conspiracy charges in connection with the home invasion and vehicle theft. He remains in custody at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility without bond. 

Additional charges, including local ones, could be pending as the investigation remains ongoing. 

Slezak's arrest warrant out of Rhode Island included the following charges, according to the Cranston Police Department; Breaking and entering with felony intent, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and conspiracy. 

This is a developing story. 

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