Man accused of stealing $900 worth of meat from 2 local Publix storesMan robbed at gunpoint during Facebook Marketplace meetup
Man accused of stealing $900 worth of meat from 2 local Publix stores A 26-year-old man is going to meet the jail cell after being caught red-handed pulling provisions.
ESTERO Man robbed at gunpoint during Facebook Marketplace meetup According to The Lee County Sherriff’s Office, a man was robbed at gunpoint at an Estero Publix while trying to buy an Apple Watch.
Nearly 50 proof of claims filed against Beattie Development Southwest Florida builder Beattie Development has collected dozens of lawsuits and millions of dollars in debt. He has left many with unfinished homes and drained bank accounts.
ESTERO 1 injured in deputy involved crash on Alico Road The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a deputy involved crash Thursday evening.
CLEWISTON Business owner attempting to bring glamping to Clewiston In Hendry County, rugged camping, or glamping, is at the center of a neighborhood fight.
FORT MYERS Goodwill Industries to build new headquarters with housing in SWFL Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida plans to build a new headquarters and affordable housing on 27 acres of land.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda City Council approves funding request for high-water vehicles Punta Gorda City Council approved the go-ahead to ask Tallahassee for help in purchasing high-water rescue vehicles.
How SWFL man secured 1-on-1 interview with former President Carter How an airsick bag helped a Southwest Florida man secure a coveted one-on-one interview with the former president.
FORT MYERS SFCA’s Asa Rogosich leads the state in scoring Southwest Florida Christian Academy point guard Asa Rogosich leads the state in scoring, averaging 38.4 points per game.
PALMDALE Glades County community feels unheard when it comes to their post office A tight-knit community feels like their cries for help are not being heard. Earlier this week, the Palmdale post office had been closed down.
David Osborne: Pianist and Friend of Jimmy Carter Meet the man behind the presidential keys: David Osborne.
Florida Supreme Court to hear convicted killer Joseph Zieler’s appeal Less than a year after he was sentenced to die for his crimes, the Florida Supreme Court will hear Joseph Zieler’s appeal.
FORT MYERS BEACH Plans for proposed food truck park on Fort Myers Beach reach stalemate A food truck park could be on the way to Fort Myers Beach, but right now, its future seems uncertain.
Understanding iron deficiency symptoms A constant feeling of exhaustion may be from a lack of good sleep, but it could also be a sign of low iron.
FGCU FSW’s revered volleyball coach taking over FGCU program Baziquetto-Allen takes over from FGCU’s 11-year head coach Matt Botsford, who is taking over at the University of Central Florida.
Man accused of stealing $900 worth of meat from 2 local Publix stores A 26-year-old man is going to meet the jail cell after being caught red-handed pulling provisions.
ESTERO Man robbed at gunpoint during Facebook Marketplace meetup According to The Lee County Sherriff’s Office, a man was robbed at gunpoint at an Estero Publix while trying to buy an Apple Watch.
Nearly 50 proof of claims filed against Beattie Development Southwest Florida builder Beattie Development has collected dozens of lawsuits and millions of dollars in debt. He has left many with unfinished homes and drained bank accounts.
ESTERO 1 injured in deputy involved crash on Alico Road The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a deputy involved crash Thursday evening.
CLEWISTON Business owner attempting to bring glamping to Clewiston In Hendry County, rugged camping, or glamping, is at the center of a neighborhood fight.
FORT MYERS Goodwill Industries to build new headquarters with housing in SWFL Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida plans to build a new headquarters and affordable housing on 27 acres of land.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda City Council approves funding request for high-water vehicles Punta Gorda City Council approved the go-ahead to ask Tallahassee for help in purchasing high-water rescue vehicles.
How SWFL man secured 1-on-1 interview with former President Carter How an airsick bag helped a Southwest Florida man secure a coveted one-on-one interview with the former president.
FORT MYERS SFCA’s Asa Rogosich leads the state in scoring Southwest Florida Christian Academy point guard Asa Rogosich leads the state in scoring, averaging 38.4 points per game.
PALMDALE Glades County community feels unheard when it comes to their post office A tight-knit community feels like their cries for help are not being heard. Earlier this week, the Palmdale post office had been closed down.
David Osborne: Pianist and Friend of Jimmy Carter Meet the man behind the presidential keys: David Osborne.
Florida Supreme Court to hear convicted killer Joseph Zieler’s appeal Less than a year after he was sentenced to die for his crimes, the Florida Supreme Court will hear Joseph Zieler’s appeal.
FORT MYERS BEACH Plans for proposed food truck park on Fort Myers Beach reach stalemate A food truck park could be on the way to Fort Myers Beach, but right now, its future seems uncertain.
Understanding iron deficiency symptoms A constant feeling of exhaustion may be from a lack of good sleep, but it could also be a sign of low iron.
FGCU FSW’s revered volleyball coach taking over FGCU program Baziquetto-Allen takes over from FGCU’s 11-year head coach Matt Botsford, who is taking over at the University of Central Florida.
According to The Lee County Sherriff’s Office, a man was robbed at gunpoint while trying to buy an Apple Watch from Facebook Marketplace. The alleged robbery took place at a Publix parking lot on Corkscrew Road last week. Lee County deputies said the victim met the suspect, 25-year-old Stephen McConnell on Facebook Marketplace. The report states that the buyer noticed the watch was fake and asked for his money back. That’s when McConnell allegedly showed the gun in his waistband saying, “Don’t make this hard on yourself,” and then told the victim to Zelle him another $500. By the end of the meetup, the victim was left without a watch. Facebook Marketplace is full of deals, but unlike shopping at the store, you have to scope out the deals to see if they are legit. “There’s a lot of scammers out there, so you have to learn how to differentiate who’s serious and who’s not,” said Luis Lopez, a customer at Publix. David Thomas, Professor of Forensic Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University had some insight to share on the scamming. “The internet provides a haven for predators, and especially now that we’re talking about selling stuff, you have no idea who you’re meeting and what that deal is,” said Thomas. “Especially when the suspect knows you’re coming with a set amount of dollars, 500 bucks, and so that means that he’s the predator and you’re the prey.” McConnell drove off that night and was arrested days later. Lesson learned, if you’re thinking about shopping on Facebook Marketplace, be prepared. “We live in times where people need to be constantly aware. Their head needs to be on a swivel,” said Thomas. Customer Ailie Lahti had advice for those looking to make purchases through Facebook. “Check out who it is,” said Lahti. “If they have a brand new Facebook profile, it’s probably not a real person or probably a dangerous person. Check out their pictures. It’s kind of stalker-ish, but definitely do some research on the person before you buy it.” Lopez urged others to be safe when meeting up with strangers and to not go alone. “That’s a message: Don’t come by yourself. Even in the nicest areas that you can be around all the time, anything can happen,” said Lopez. An expert stated that parking lots may not be as safe as you think. A safer spot for a meetup would be the police station or sheriff’s office. That way you know help is nearby and you have eyes on you and the others you’re meeting with.