Collier County may settle with state over botched 911 call

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Collier County may settle with the state over a botched 911 call that lead to a man’s death.

Chaz Minard died in December of 2012.  His father tells WINK News the proposed settlement is too little, too late.

As if losing his 25-year-old son, Chaz, wasn’t enough, Charles Minard may never get the apology from Collier County EMS he’s been waiting for.

“That’s the worst part about it all,” said Minard. “We’re just gonna brush this under the rug.  Collier County doesn’t believe in accountability. Period.”

​Chaz Minard died of a heart attack after his family says their calls for help were mishandled.  The county conducted its own investigation and found there was a four minute delay in responding and that back up notifications failed.

Now, instead of fining the county upwards of $700,000, the state is asking the county to spend $230,000 to upgrade the system that alerts paramedics and firefighters of calls.  Charles Minard says the county should have to do both.

“It’s not a punishment,” said Minard. “It’s just a little fix it up and we’ll forget about it. I’m not gonna forget about it.”

​The changes ​Collier County EMS would have to make include installing amps, speakers, wiring, night vision and strobe lights to help alert paramedics.

WINK News found out, visual alerting displays including LED reader boards and count up timers, already used by North Collier Fire and Rescue, would cost the county extra money.  The state is not forcing the county to install them.

Minard says he’s concerned for other Collier County families.

“I have faith that somebody else is gonna die at the hands of EMS,” said Minard.

Collier County commissioners will hear more on the settlement at their next board meeting on Tuesday, April 28.

Charles Minard is asking for the community’s help and to contact him at charlesminard@comcast.net