PALM COAST, Fla. – A fugitive sex offender wanted on warrants in Missouri and Florida was arrested Wednesday, less than a day after moving into a Palm Coast residence, after a concerned citizen alerted authorities.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office identified the fugitive as Scott Granden, 40, of St. Louis, Missouri.
According to the sheriff’s office, its Fugitive Apprehension Unit learned Wednesday morning that Granden had moved into a home on Perthshire Lane approximately 12 hours earlier.
Authorities said Granden was wanted in Missouri on two warrants involving failure to register as a sex offender and leaving the scene of a crash. He was also wanted on a felony battery warrant from Jacksonville, Florida.
Deputies with the Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit and K-9 Unit responded to the Palm Coast residence and surrounded the home.
K-9 Brought In After Fugitive Refuses to Surrender
Deputies made multiple announcements ordering Granden to come outside, but authorities said he refused to come to the door.
Officers eventually breached the door and continued issuing commands for him to surrender.
When Granden still refused to come out, deputies brought an FCSO K-9 to the scene.
After additional commands from the K-9 handler and hearing the police dog barking, Granden came out of the residence and was taken into custody without further incident.
“If you’re a fugitive, Flagler County is the wrong place to hide,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This dirtbag thought he could flee to Florida, enjoy the sunshine and escape law enforcement.”
Staly credited the citizen who provided information with helping deputies locate Granden shortly after his arrival.
“Someone ‘saw something, said something,’ and our deputies put him in handcuffs before his boxes were unpacked,” Staly said.
Sex Offender Conviction Stems From Georgia Case
According to the sheriff’s office, Granden is a registered sex offender stemming from a 2022 conviction for Abusive Sexual Contact in Atlanta, Georgia.
Deputies arrested Granden for resisting without violence and violation of probation, along with the active fugitive warrants.
He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.
The sheriff’s office said the arrest demonstrates the importance of residents reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.