Video shows arrest of woman soliciting money for fake funeral in Flagler County

A woman with two children was arrested along Interstate 95 in Flagler County after soliciting money for a fake funeral over the weekend, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said Elena Firu, 37, was seen with two boys near Palm Coast Parkway and Boulder Rock Drive wearing neon yellow vests and holding signs and buckets.

The sheriff’s office said when deputies questioned Firu, she provided a fake name and later said that name belonged to her niece who died in a crash in France three days prior and that she was raising money for her funeral.

The video shows a deputy questioning Firu, then telling the suspect and her children she’s sorry their family is going through that tragedy, but she “can’t have (them) walking in traffic.”