16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier CountyNew bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
Car chase. (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) Lee County residents are demanding answers on how deputies will deal with dangerous drivers because the safety of their communities is at stake. A double shooting during what deputies call a street race has stirred up concern in Lehigh Acres. That shooting triggered Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno to say he’s had it with the street crime in the county and has changed the pursuit policy as a result. Marceno says he’s pulling out all the toys, helicopters, drones, and stop sticks, to stop street racers. The community is tired of all the talk, though, and wants action now. WINK News has reached out to the sheriff’s office to speak with Sheriff Marceno, and for a second straight day, the sheriff and his public information officers have refused to talk to us or to give to me copies of the old and new pursuit policies. This week, Marceno posted this on Facebook. “I have amended our pursuit policy effective immediately. What that means is that we immediately are utilizing our helicopter, stop sticks, drones, barricades, all hands on deck, everything we have to make certain that we win.” We’ve seen LCSO post on Facebook “winning” many times. “Zero tolerance is zero tolerance. I have promised you since day one,’ said Marceno in a Facebook video. But what does that mean? WINK News has asked the sheriff’s office for copies of its old pursuit policy and the new one so we could give you specifics, and we are not the only ones looking for details. On Thursday, Bill Conley posted on the sheriff’s Facebook page, saying, “I’m tired of our all the talk!” Michael and Teresa said they’ve “Personally asked deputies why they don’t run radar and stop these fast drivers.” A video shot before the policy change shows deputies utilizing a helicopter, which safety and security specialist Rich Kolko said helps keep people on the road safe. “They’re usually not noticed by the people being pursued. And they have the opportunity to, you know, take pictures, find out where the car is going, see how many people are in the car, get vital information for investigators for law enforcement,” said Kolko. So were helicopters part of the previous pursuit policy? How about drones and stop-sticks? Are they in every deputy’s car? Who makes the call to pursue? Who decides when to launch the helicopter or drone or use stop sticks? WINK News has asked the sheriff’s office all these questions and will bring you the answers when the sheriff’s office sends us the old and new pursuit policies. The sheriff’s office is not the only police agency fighting people with a lead foot. “So we’ve been having our officers go out, and if they find street racing, they’re arresting the people responsible, inciting any spectators with non-criminal traffic violations,” said Officer Kyle Martins, with the Fort Myers Police Department. Martins said going after street racers, and the people who watch them is making a difference. “We’ve actually seen a decline in those groups showing up to those locations.” Locations like the Bravo Supermarket parking lot off Palm Beach Boulevard. Those with a need for speed don’t show up there anymore because they know those dangerous drivers will be seen and stopped. “Every officer is equipped with stop sticks in their car. They use them pursuant to policy,” said Martins. Officer Martins said Fort Myers Police policy says for an officer to pursue someone, a supervisor must give his or her approval. Often times LCSO helps them with helicopters, drones, and deputies.