Palm Coast man faces 5 charges in carjacking

Detectives say 22-year-old man assaulted deliveryman

Flagler County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Giuseppe Verdone Jr.

PALM COAST, Fla. – Detectives say they have filed five felony charges against a Palm Coast man who is suspected of carjacking a deliveryman Saturday night, then leading police on a chase into South Carolina.

Giuseppe Verdone, 22, is charged with carjacking, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm, falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

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Deputies said Verdone was also charged with felony interference with the custody of a juvenile after detectives determined Verdone was traveling with a 15-year-old girl from Palm Coast.

Verdone is believed to have attacked 43-year-old Ming Gong when deputies said Gong attempted to make a delivery of Chinese food to a vacant home on Bayside Drive.

Detectives said Verdone called King's Palace, which Gong owns, and placed a food delivery order, directing Gong to the vacant home.

When he arrived at the home, detectives said Verdone assaulted him and described himself as a law enforcement officer, before handcuffing Gong and placing him inside of Gong's vehicle.

Detectives believe Gong jumped from the moving vehicle, suffering serious head injuries, on Palm Coast Parkway Westbound, near the Palm Coast Community Center.

Following the incident, Gong was taken to Florida Hospital Flagler before being airlifted to UF Health Jacksonville, where deputies said he underwent surgery. He was listed in serious condition.

Detectives believe Verdone met up with the 15-year-old girl and fled the area, and committed a robbery in St. Johns County, then continued north. Gong's stolen vehicle was observed early Sunday in Liberty County, Ga., where deputies said a chase ensued.

The stolen vehicle was later stopped in Hardeeville, S.C., where Verdone and the young girl were taken into custody.

Verdone remains in custody at the Jasper County Detention Facility in Hardeeville, where deputies said he faces additional charges and awaits extradition back to Flagler County.