Officials on scene of active fire at Charlotte County homeMan accused of burglarizing several businesses in Fort Myers
Officials on scene of active fire at Charlotte County home Firefighters are on the scene of a fire at a Charlotte County home.
FORT MYERS Man accused of burglarizing several businesses in Fort Myers A crime spree came to an end Sunday night as deputies arrested a man in a bush.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers cross country runner reflects on state championship Fort Myers High School senior cross country runner Masha Dorofeev reflects on her state championship win and committing to UCF.
CAPE CORAL Coyote kills beloved family pet For 16 years, Sarge and his owner, James Stewart were inseparable.
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
NAPLES Identity released of body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
FORT MYERS City leaders looking to improve Fort Myers infrastructure with AI When people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they typically think of online apps like Chat GPT but the City of Fort Myers wants to use it to make a real-world difference.
SAINT JAMES CITY Saint James City neighbors create art from hurricane destruction Many who pass through Saint James City see this as just leftovers from a hundred-year storm but not Floyd Cornett.
FORT MYERS Miracle Moment: Children starting the year cancer free Several youngsters are celebrating starting 2025 cancer-free.
FORT MYERS Flood insurance discount up to 20% in Fort Myers Anyone who lives in the City of Fort Myers will be getting a bigger flood insurance discount.
Message from LCEC raises red flag for customers A push from one of Southwest Florida’s power providers to not use your heater as the temperatures drop has raised a red flag for some customers.
FORT MYERS Cutting down on truck traffic on McGregor Boulevard Giant trucks are rumbling on roads meant to connect neighborhoods, and now city leaders want to eliminate trucks from the roads completely.
Exercise: an instant health boost Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise can start helping your body right away?
State attorney removes herself from Lee County Sheriff’s Office case A source sent WINK News anchor Claire Galt an executive order saying the state is investigating Ken Romano, a consultant who was on the sheriff’s office payroll.
Collier County woman arrested twice for operating illicit massage parlor The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of operating an illicit massage parlor, her second time arrested on this charge.
Officials on scene of active fire at Charlotte County home Firefighters are on the scene of a fire at a Charlotte County home.
FORT MYERS Man accused of burglarizing several businesses in Fort Myers A crime spree came to an end Sunday night as deputies arrested a man in a bush.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers cross country runner reflects on state championship Fort Myers High School senior cross country runner Masha Dorofeev reflects on her state championship win and committing to UCF.
CAPE CORAL Coyote kills beloved family pet For 16 years, Sarge and his owner, James Stewart were inseparable.
FORT MYERS Local artist AHZUWOP to hold fashion show at tattoo shop A local artist is throwing a fashion show at a tattoo shop, an event that will also feature music performances and an art exhibition.
NAPLES Identity released of body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
FORT MYERS City leaders looking to improve Fort Myers infrastructure with AI When people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they typically think of online apps like Chat GPT but the City of Fort Myers wants to use it to make a real-world difference.
SAINT JAMES CITY Saint James City neighbors create art from hurricane destruction Many who pass through Saint James City see this as just leftovers from a hundred-year storm but not Floyd Cornett.
FORT MYERS Miracle Moment: Children starting the year cancer free Several youngsters are celebrating starting 2025 cancer-free.
FORT MYERS Flood insurance discount up to 20% in Fort Myers Anyone who lives in the City of Fort Myers will be getting a bigger flood insurance discount.
Message from LCEC raises red flag for customers A push from one of Southwest Florida’s power providers to not use your heater as the temperatures drop has raised a red flag for some customers.
FORT MYERS Cutting down on truck traffic on McGregor Boulevard Giant trucks are rumbling on roads meant to connect neighborhoods, and now city leaders want to eliminate trucks from the roads completely.
Exercise: an instant health boost Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise can start helping your body right away?
State attorney removes herself from Lee County Sheriff’s Office case A source sent WINK News anchor Claire Galt an executive order saying the state is investigating Ken Romano, a consultant who was on the sheriff’s office payroll.
Collier County woman arrested twice for operating illicit massage parlor The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of operating an illicit massage parlor, her second time arrested on this charge.
An off-duty deputy was in the back of a squad car, being driven toward the jail after getting pulled over for speeding and failing field sobriety tests. New documents uncovered by WINK raise more questions as to why he never made it to jail and got a ride home instead. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno sat down exclusively with Investigative Reporter Peter Fleischer to provide answers and lift back the curtain to explain how the Sheriff’s Office made decisions during that incident. An LCSO report shows the intersection of Lee Boulevard and Sunshine Boulevard is the location where off-duty deputy Michael Soto was pulled over back on the morning of August 20, 2023. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour, but GPS information from Deputy Christopher Link, who pulled Soto over, showed Link had to drive 118 miles per hour at 3:22 a.m. to make the stop. Sheriff Marceno reviewed the information with Fleischer and explained that Soto didn’t get a ticket because he was suffering a medical episode while driving home that night. “Do you want to write someone a ticket that’s having a medical event,” Marceno asked. “Probably not.” Marceno also noted that despite Link’s speed in making the stop, Soto was not driving that fast. “I know he (Link) traveled a high rate of speed, but when a vehicle passes you,” Marceno explained,“It takes a really high rate of speed to catch up to that vehicle.” An alcohol influence report from that night shows Soto “did a poor job” with field sobriety tests and refused to give a blood, breath, or urine sample. Paperwork claimed he lost balance while listening to instructions, stepped off a straight line, and performed an incorrect turn. Those actions landed him in the back of Deputy Link’s cruiser. Returned to scene Fleischer requested GPS logs from every LCSO car involved with Soto’s incident. The data and designations show that he was transporting Soto. Starting at 3:46 a.m., Link began driving Soto west down Lee Boulevard toward the county jail. At 4 a.m., logs show Link received a phone call. He then promptly turned back around, going the other way on Lee Boulevard, returning Soto to the scene.” GPS information from LCSO shows the patrol car’s route that morning LCSO Commander James Bogliole, in charge of that morning’s shift, determined Soto was having a medical incident. “He does a personal assessment and he determines that there’s a medical issue,” Marceno explained, walking through Bogliole’s logic. “I wasn’t there. He makes that call. I stand by that call.” Deputy provides details After consent from Soto, LCSO provided more information to help explain his issues. In a written statement, Marceno said that “around the time of the incident, a neurologist diagnosed Soto with anxiety, hypertension, sleep apnea and migraines.” He also provided a list of eight medications for treatment. “If you have ailments, it impedes your ability to do field sobriety tests.” LCSO did not provide any official medical paperwork, or a doctor’s note, citing HIPAA privacy. But Marceno insisted Soto’s ailments and the meds he was taking for treatment explain how he behaved during the stop. “When there’s a medical event, it depends on the severity, people can do things in a different state of mind,” Marceno reasoned. Why was he taken home? Soto was later driven home by Bogliole, not taken to a hospital or medical center. Marceno acknowledged how the outcome might look from the outside looking in, but explained that Soto and his family made the decision to seek care at home that morning. “A decision was made, one by Soto, and two by the watch commander,” Marceno explained. “The watch commander drove him home. Soto, as an adult, says I don’t want to go to the hospital. I want to go home to my family where I can be treated.” LCSO also confirmed to WINK that Soto was not internally disciplined following this incident, but was reassigned to court duty, where he is still stationed now. Sheriff Marceno said they wanted to take Soto off the roads to avoid incidents like this in the future. The following is Marceno’s entire statement to WINK, explaining Soto’s medical episode on the morning of August 20: On August 23, 2023, I provided an update to all media outlets explaining the incident appeared to be medically related, and that my on-duty Watch Commander, with over 30 years of law enforcement experience, handled the matter appropriately. Subsequently, Deputy Soto permitted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to release specific medical information, directly related to his relevant medical conditions and medications. Deputy Soto, around the time of the incident, was diagnosed by his neurologist as suffering from anxiety, hypertension, sleep apnea, and migraines. Treatment includes these medications: Sumatriptan Nurtec ODT Bupropion Olmesartan Lorazepam Adderall Fluoxetine Fenofibrate Each of Deputy Soto’s ailments presents its respective symptoms. In addition, each medication prescribed to treat these illnesses has numerous potential side effects, far too many to list here. These symptoms and side effects impacted his actions and appearance. Deputy Soto continues his medical treatments and his medications are adjusted by his physicians to best address his medical conditions. He has been assigned to a day shift position to facilitate medical treatment and speed up his full recovery. No person, including law enforcement officers, are above the law. After reviewing this matter, the on-duty Watch Commander’s determination at the scene that Deputy Soto was suffering from a medical event is confirmed. Fleischer reached out to Link, Soto, and Bagliole through the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Marceno addressed the situation on their behalf.