Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concernsStudents benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema prepares for opening at Mercato The newest movie theater in Southwest Florida opens April 29, and it does so with an array of entertainment offerings that go beyond the usual options across the region.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – WINK News teamed up with the Charlotte Sun Newspaper to investigate deaths at the Charlotte County Jail. Tom Ireland seemed reluctant to talk to two reporters prying into an unexpected and undoubtedly embarrassing family tragedy. He seemed to have a similar reluctance towards the lawsuit he’s filed against members of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and it’s Medical Provider: Corizon Healthcare. “I’m not here to make waves. All I said was something was wrong,” he said. The retiree from Wisconsin said he was proud of his middle son Greg, who at one point in time was a very capable engineer in their home state. In 2008, Gregg lost his job and came to Punta Gorda to live with his parents. Ireland said he did odd jobs, helped around the house and neighborhood and always found time to watch Wisconsin football. On August 22, 2015, 47-year-old Gregg Ireland was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content at 0.314. With a BAC more than three times the legal limit, too high to be booked directly into jail, a Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy took him to Bayfront Health. Medical records show a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and hypokalemia, a potassium deficiency common in alcoholics. He left the hospital with a prescription for a potassium supplement and was transported to the Charlotte County Jail’s medical facility, known as “C-Pod”. According to medical records and interviews from an internal investigation, none of the medical staff gave Ireland the potassium supplement, or any detox medications during the time he was in the jail. A deputy said he and Ireland exchanged friendly banter about football when he first arrived. But the next night, that same deputy said he so threatened by the 322-pound inmate he had to defend himself. Sometime after 3 a.m. on August 24, the deputy and a nurse went to Ireland’s cell door to investigate a commotion. Over the course of the next hour, Ireland was tased a total of nine times and restrained by several deputies. When they realized he was not responding or breathing, they started CPR and eventually transported him to the hospital. “He just never woke up,” said Tom Ireland, who made the decision to take his son off life support two days later. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as natural due to withdrawal from alcohol. Five deaths in five years A WINK News and Charlotte Sun joint investigation found Ireland’s death was the 5th at the jail in a five-year period. In 2013, Thomas Andreasen, was arrested for panhandling. After what is best described as a psychotic episode, deputies placed Andreasen in a restraint chair for several hours. Deputies claimed they did checks on him every 15 minutes, and on the last one noticed he wasn’t breathing. The medical examiner said his death was natural due to withdrawl from alcohol. It was the second time in five years that an inmate housed in the medical unit died, and the medical examiner listed alcohol withdrawal as the cause of death. Two other inmates committed suicide after being cleared by the jail’s mental health counselor and released back into general population. And another inmate was found in an intake cell some time after booking, not breathing. What’s going on? Tom Ireland said he hopes the federal lawsuit will shed some light on what potential mistakes were made leading up to his son’s death. Surveillance video and interviews with inmates, deputies and medical staff show the events leading up to Gregg Ireland’s death. It started when inmate Ireland’s roommate banged on the door of the cell. “He said Ireland threw water on him. Ireland had claims thed he had tripped and spilled the water,” said Zachary Heavener, a nurse who escorted a deputy upstairs to investigate. In the medical unit of the jail, nursing staff assists deputies to make sure nothing medical is going on. The deputy described Ireland as sweating, nervous and fidgety and said while trying to remove the roomate’s belongings from the cell, Ireland took a step towards him. Deputy Brandon Swartzentruber said at that time he tased him, and called over the radio for help. A female inmate later told investigators she heard Ireland trying to tell the deputy he couldn’t get on his back before the taser went off. Another deputy said he had to give palm strikes to Ireland’s ribcage in an effort to get him to comply and said the “fight” was on when they arrived in the cell. A male inmate reported hearing sounds of a body being slammed against the concrete several times. Eight deputies arrived throughout the next several minutes to help restrain Ireland with handcuffs and leg shackles. They said none of that was working, so another deputy left to get special Velcro restraint belts. Based on the video it is twelve minutes into the ordeal when deputies call for a second nurse to come upstairs to the cell. Deputies said Ireland had gone unresponsive but when the Nurse shined a flashlight in his eyes, he began cussing at her. They claim as they moved him from the top floor of the pod to the bottom, he continued to “squirm” and break out of restraint belts. The inmate in the cell next to him, told investigators she saw them drop him on the floor right next to her cell and she didn’t hear or see him moving or making any sounds. On the bottom floor, a video inside a cell where camera is not functioning, showed deputies with Ireland for another eight minutes. When he is moved into a cell with a functioning camera, deputies are seen removing a spit mask from his face and beginning chest compressions. Medical Missteps? Submit Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.