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A Port Orange man was arrested July 17 following a five-month investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office into thousands of harassing phone calls and a false report made to state child welfare authorities.
Luke Herbert, 31, faces charges of stalking, filing a false report of child abuse, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
The investigation began in February 2026 when a woman contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit. She reported receiving thousands of harassing calls and text messages from blocked and unknown numbers dating back to March 2025. On some days, the victim received 50 or more calls, which filled her voicemail with recorded messages and audio clips.
Detectives with the Major Case Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit traced the communications to a network of internet-based phone numbers tied to Herbert. Investigators also found that Herbert’s personal cell phone placed 213 calls to the victim during a single week in early February, using a feature that disguised his number as “Unknown.”
According to detectives, Herbert also used an internet-based phone number in December 2025 to submit a false report to the Florida Department of Children and Families. The report alleged that the woman and her husband were abusing their children. A child protective investigator investigated the claim, found no supporting evidence, and closed the case as unfounded.
Investigators found that the only prior connection between the victim and Herbert was an incident where Herbert was trespassed from the business where the victim worked.
Herbert was previously arrested in Volusia County for similar conduct. In that case, he pleaded no contest to making harassing phone calls, and the judge withheld adjudication.
“This guy thought he could hide behind blocked numbers and phone apps to make a woman’s life miserable. He even weaponized DCF in an attempt to harass her,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend our detectives, who spent five months pulling back the curtain on him, following the digital breadcrumbs, and conquering the technological hurdles that would overwhelm others. This proves once again why we established the Cyber Crimes Unit just a few years ago.”
Following the issuance of a felony arrest warrant on July 17, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office took Herbert into custody at his home in Port Orange. He was booked into the Volusia County Jail and later released after posting a $12,500 bond.
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Cops Crack Florida Cyber-Stalker’s Mask After Thousands Of Harassing Calls
