FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 A Palm Coast man has been arrested after taking the ashes of a woman\u2019s late son, according to the Flagler County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
In a release, deputies said they caught the man \u2014 identified as Justin Fountain, 31 \u2014 on Saturday as he was GPS-tracking and following the woman around the county.<\/p>\n
Justin Andrew Fountain, 31 (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)<\/p>\n
Per investigators, the victim reported that she\u2019d met Fountain through a dating app, but he\u2019d become \u201cincreasingly controlling and aggressive,\u201d going so far as to steal her child\u2019s ashes despite her asking him to stop contacting her.<\/p>\n
Deputies: Tracking, threats and unwanted encounters<\/p>\n
The victim told deputies she cut off contact with Fountain, but he later showed up uninvited at her workplace, authorities said. When she returned to the hotel she had been staying at, she saw Fountain\u2019s vehicle in the parking lot, according to the report.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the victim left to meet a friend at Culver\u2019s \u2014 but Fountain allegedly followed and tried to talk to her there, too. The victim again told him to leave her alone, deputies said.<\/p>\n
Alleged account access and intimidation<\/p>\n
According to the sheriff\u2019s office, the victim later went to Flagler Beach to get away, but began receiving alerts that someone had signed into her social media accounts. She told deputies she did not give Fountain permission to access her accounts and believed he gained access while she was sleeping.<\/p>\n
Deputies said Fountain also texted threats meant to keep her from contacting law enforcement, including claims she could be arrested on a warrant if she called police. Other messages included:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to answer my calls if you know what\u2019s good for you\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to destroy you\u201d<\/p>\n
Victim says ashes were taken \u2014 and threatened<\/p>\n
Authorities said Fountain sent messages claiming he had stolen a teddy bear that contained the victim\u2019s sons\u2019 ashes and threatened to burn it if she kept ignoring him.<\/p>\n
Traffic stop leads to arrest, deputies say<\/p>\n
Using investigative methods, deputies located Fountain traveling north on Interstate 95 and conducted a traffic stop. Fountain said he was driving to Georgia, according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
[RELATED: Watch body-camera footage of the arrest below]<\/p>\n
During a search of the vehicle, deputies said they found the stolen teddy bear containing the ashes. The item was later returned to the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cI commend the victim for coming forward despite this stalker\u2019s threats,\u201d Sheriff Rick Staly said. \u201cBe extremely careful who you give access to your life. Your cell phone, laptop and residence hold banking info, social media accounts, and cherished memories. Evil, jealous and cruel men like Fountain will use anything to control their victims, including extorting them with their most personal and emotional memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charges filed<\/p>\n
Fountain was arrested and now faces the following charges:<\/p>\n
Aggravated stalking<\/p>\n
Extortion<\/p>\n
Hindering communication with law enforcement<\/p>\n
Unauthorized installation of a tracking device<\/p>\n
Access to an electronic device without authority<\/p>\n
Deputies transported Fountain to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is held on bond of $61,000.<\/p>\n
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