Florida Detective Sues Over Alleged Wrongful Arrest in Traffic Stop

Lawsuit Claims Officer Lacked Basis for Fleeing Charge

Detective Challenges Arrest

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — A detective with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has filed a lawsuit against the City of Ormond Beach and a police sergeant, alleging he was wrongfully arrested during a traffic stop in December.

Ardit Coma was taken into custody on Dec. 4 after an Ormond Beach police officer attempted to pull him over for speeding. The lawsuit names the city and Sgt. Caleb Braun as defendants and claims the arrest caused significant personal and financial harm.

Dispute Over Traffic Stop

According to the lawsuit, Coma admits he was driving above the speed limit but denies attempting to flee from law enforcement. The complaint states he did not see the officer’s emergency lights and later stopped after noticing stop sticks on the roadway.

Coma said he believed the stop sticks were related to another situation and pulled over to assist, not realizing they had been deployed to stop him. The lawsuit says he complied with law enforcement once he stopped.

“Despite the absence of any conduct constituting fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, Defendant Sergeant Braun arrested Plaintiff for fleeing and eluding,” the suit states.

An arrest report from police offers a different account. It alleges Coma weaved through traffic and drove around the stop sticks before being taken into custody.

Alleged Damages

Following the arrest, Coma was suspended from his position with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. He later paid the speeding ticket tied to the incident.

Coma is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against Sgt. Braun, along with attorney’s fees, interest and any additional relief the court may grant.

Legal Representation

Coma is represented by attorney Anthony Sabatini of Lake County. Sabatini has previously represented clients in lawsuits against local governments, including cases involving Flagler County and Palm Coast officials.

The lawsuit adds to a series of legal disputes involving public officials in the region. Sabatini is also representing a former Flagler Beach city employee in a separate wrongful termination case.

Case Moves Forward

The lawsuit will now proceed in court, where a judge will review the competing accounts of the traffic stop and determine whether the arrest was justified.

The case centers on whether Coma’s actions met the legal definition of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, a key issue that will likely shape the outcome of the dispute.