Wanted Florida Woman Runs Into Woods, Gets Stranded and Rescued by Canoe

A Florida woman who allegedly ran into the woods to avoid arrest ended up needing to be rescued from across a canal after deputies borrowed a citizen’s canoe to bring her back to land.

Flagler County deputies responded to a self-storage business on Airport Road in Ormond Beach in the afternoon of Sept. 17 to assist with a trespassing call, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived, the woman who was trespassing fled into the woods.

The woman was identified as 28-year-old Tiffani Driggers. Deputies discovered that she had an active fugitive warrant from Walton County for felony violation of probation. K-9s, drones, and deputies were all used in an attempt to locate Driggers, with help from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and its helicopter.

They weren’t able to find her immediately, but Driggers would eventually reveal her whereabouts.

She Needed Help

Later that evening, a Windsong Court resident reported hearing a woman calling for help near the earlier search area. Deputies responded and made voice contact with Driggers near a wooded peninsula.

Driggers reportedly told deputies she was exhausted, couldn’t cross the canal, and may have injured her ankle.

The Flagler County Marine Unit and additional deputies were requested to help reach her. However, a nearby homeowner offered deputies a canoe to reach Driggers across the water.

Rescue by Canoe

Two deputies got into the canoe and crossed the canal to reach Driggers. They were able to get her into the canoe and bring her safely back to shore.

Volusia County Fire Rescue evaluated Driggers for her injuries before she was taken into custody. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she is being held without bond on the fugitive warrant.

Driggers has a lengthy criminal history, according to the sheriff’s office. That history includes grand theft, possession of controlled substances, giving a false name, resisting arrest, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Working Together

Sheriff Rick Staly praised the deputies and residents who helped locate Driggers and get her safely back across the canal.

“This is exactly what guardianship policing looks like,” Staly said, referring to the resident who reported Driggers calling for help and another resident who offered deputies the canoe.

Staly also added that whether it takes a patrol car, K-9, drone, helicopter, or canoe, deputies will find a way to get the job done. He thanked the residents for helping bring the search “back to shore and into the Green Roof Inn.”

Driggers was arrested on the existing fugitive warrant and remains in custody without bond. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.