ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Fort Myers resident Henry Jackson has emailed the mayor of Columbus to tell him about information Chief Derrick Diggs may left off his resume. (CREDIT: WINK News) Fort Myers police Chief Derrick Diggs wants the top police job in Columbus, Ohio. According to his resume, he’s selling himself as someone who builds trust and transparency while also improving community engagement with the police. But his track record on transparency could hinder him. And one outspoken Fort Myers resident is letting the mayor of Columbus know. Henry Jackson, the father of Fort Myers police Officer Jason Jackson, emailed the mayor of Columbus to warn him of the 4-year scandal that kept his son off the force. “My opinion is, it’s not a positive one,” Henry Jackson said. WINK News requested an interview with Diggs, but he didn’t respond. In a memo to police officers, Diggs said, “These are tumultuous times for law enforcement so being open to opportunities is just prudent professional practice.” For years, Jackson has criticized Diggs and the Fort Myers Police Department for placing his son on administrative leave without revealing the reason why. “A strong leader would go ahead would be able to face those tough questions,” Jackson said. Jason Jackson was on paid administrative leave for four years until April 6 when the Fort Myers Police Department announced he would be back on duty after the conclusion of a federal investigation resulted in no criminal charges against the officer and three others who were placed on leave with him. Jason, Melvin Perry, Michael Forbes and Rick Notaro were placed on leave Feb. 22, 2017, coinciding with the release of a months-long audit by the Freeh Group International Solutions that alleged possible corruption, lack of leadership, thinning resources and favoritism at the police department. When Diggs arrived in Fort Myers in 2016, he told WINK News he wanted to bridge the gap between police and the community. Diggs was hired as Fort Myers police chief in 2016. At the time, he signed a three-year contract with an annual base pay of $140,000. In 2019, his contract was renewed for two years with a $42,000 pay bump. Diggs’ contract is set to expire in August. On his resume, he claims he did that by “instituting change at every level of the department” and driving down crime by more than 50%. “Chief Diggs is top-drawer,” said Fort Myers Councilman Liston Bochette. “He’s as good as they get. We’ve been blessed to have him here. The city is a safer city.” Crime stats from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that. And achievements like a real-time crime center, more officers on the job and better pay are markers of his success. But when it comes to those words: trust and transparency, that depends on who you ask. “I don’t think so If you ask the people out in the Dunbar community,” Henry Jackson said. While Henry Jackson’s son is back on full-duty, and the federal investigation has concluded, Fort Myers police still won’t reveal the accusations that landed Jason Jackson on leave for four years. Four pages of the Freeh report are still redacted. “He destroyed four officers’ lives,” Henry Jackson said. “Their lives, their careers, without any evidence. What if he goes up there and does the same thing?” Henry Jackson said he wasn’t trying to sabotage Diggs’ chances of getting the chief position at the Columbus Police Department. “I’m just making the Mayor of Columbus aware of what happened down here,” Henry Jackson said. “Don’t start a fire here and then leave with the fire still burning and you’re going somewhere else.”