Deputy-involved incident shrouded in mystery

BUCKINGHAM, Fla. – Neighbors said they are disturbed by shots heard at the home of a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy early Wednesday morning.

“Last night I heard like four or five shots, it was very strong. I was in the living room. I was afraid to come out,” a neighbor, Carlos Cortes said.

Cemetery Road in Buckingham was completely blocked off early Wednesday and LCSO deputies swarmed the deputy’s home, according to neighbors.

LCSO said it will not release details about the incident, but the deputy’s son said his father was in a bad mood Tuesday before midnight. His father was relieved of duty in December 2015 for family medical leave, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Neighbors said the deputy had a scary temper.

“If he was my dad and he was in a bad mood, I wouldn’t be around. I’d high-tail it out of there,” one neighbor, Mike Bodhi, said. “I’ve seen his bad moods and it’s not pretty.”

The deputy’s home is notorious for family fights, neighbors said.

“Fighting, screaming, looked like some pretty intense fights over there — kids involved, stuff like that,” Bodhi said.

The deputy’s son, who had left the home around 1 a.m. Wednesday, and neighbors were kept away from Cemetery Road and left to wait until deputies reopened the road around 4 a.m.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies told the son his father was receiving needed help.

Deputies returned to the home Wednesday afternoon to question the family.

Bodhi said he instructed his family to avoid the deputy’s home.

“I really don’t know what happened over there,” he said. “I wouldn’t even begin to speculate. But my family, my kids they all know to stay as far away from there as possible.”

LCSO said no one was hurt or in danger.