A Palm Coast man armed with a hunting knife attacked a volunteer officer for the Flagler County Sheriff's Office while she was on patrol in her marked car Thursday, authorities said.
Stephen Goldberg, 32, who lives on Eric Drive, Palm Coast, at one point held the 20-inch knife over his head as he tried to break into a female officer’s car near his home, according to a Sheriff's Office media release. The officer was not injured.
Goldberg later menaced the officer a second time before he was eventually captured and charged with attempted armed carjacking, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and armed trespassing. A department spokesperson said Goldberg is being held without bail at the Flagler County Detention Center.
Now department command officers are re-evaluating the protective gear worn by volunteer officers.
According to the release, Cpl. Angela Camit was patrolling on Eric Drive when Goldberg rushed her marked patrol vehicle with a knife raised above his head and tried to gain entry into the car. Camit, who has served several years in the Citizen on Patrol, or COP, program, averted the attack and Goldberg fled on foot. Camit pursued him to Egan Drive where he attacked her vehicle again. Deputies responded and took Goldberg into custody.
The COP unit, established during former sheriff Robert McCarthy’s administration, is made up of community volunteers who serve in various roles ranging from traffic crash investigators to court security, crime prevention and more. COPs volunteers logged more than 31,500 hours in 2017, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Had he approached a sheriff’s deputy in this manner, it is likely that we would have had a different outcome,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Our COPs are invaluable volunteers who serve and help protect this community alongside our deputies. We will not tolerate anyone threatening harm to them or anyone else. He (Goldberg) is a career repeat offender. I hope the courts keep him locked up and he is sent back to prison where he belongs before he hurts someone.”
Goldberg has seven previous arrests in Flagler County, including 2007 when he was charged with armed robbery and attempted burglary, records show.