Briefs

Naples Daily News • April 16 2025

Naples mayor not in court as drunken driving pre-trial moved

The mayor of Naples, charged with drunken driving, has had a pre-trial hearing delayed now for the fourth time. Teresa Heitmann, 61, was charged with a DUI with blood-alcohol content of greater than 0.15 in August 2024. The defendant had chased a motorist in her Porsche to their home after an incident in a roundabout, according to an arrest report. At the time of her arrest, her blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.169, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.08, according to an arrest re...

The News-Press • April 11 2025

Armed intruder killed by resident at Fort Myers apartments

A person was shot and killed at a Fort Myers apartment complex while attempting a break-in. Fort Myers police officers responded to a call at 11:40 p.m. Thursday in reference to a disturbance on Mahaffey Road in the Carlton of Fort Myers apartments, off Plantation Road. The person who called 911 told police that they fired one shot at an armed intruder trying to enter their residence. Officers and EMS attempted life-saving measures. However, the intruder was pronounced dead at the scene.No one is i...

Naples Daily News • April 11 2025

Naples man arrested for driving into building, injuring six people

A Naples man has been arrested for intentionally driving his car into a thrift store in Naples and injuring six people. Donald Peyton-Lee Russell Jr., 42, was arrested at the scene Thursday after deliberately crashing his 2024 black Honda sedan into the storefront of the St. Matthews House Naples Flagship Thrift Store, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded about 10:40 a.m. to a report of a vehicle entering the building at 2601 Airport-Pulli...

Naples Daily News • April 10 2025

Naples man guilty for shooting at apartments in Naples, violation of probation

A Naples man has been found guilty for his involvement in a 2023 shooting at a Naples apartment.

In March 2023, Collier County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a shooting at the Abaco Bay apartments off Bayshore Drive near Sugden Regional Park. According to the arrest report, anywhere from five to 20 rounds were fired at the apartments.

Shawndell Deandre McCann Joseph, 33, was charged and convicted for the following charges:

Three men, which included McCann, fled the scene in a vehicle,...

The News-Press • April 10 2025

At least five injured after vehicle drove into Naples thrift store

At least five people were injured when a vehicle tore through a Naples storefront on Thursday morning. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded about 10:40 a.m. to a report of a vehicle entering the St. Matthew’s House Naples Flagship Thrift Store, 2601 Airport-Pulling Road, from one end and almost driving out the other end. Those in the store sustained varying degrees of injury, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. The City of Naples Fire Department, Greater Naples Fire, Collier...

Fort Myers News-Press • April 10 2025

Texas man guilty of trafficking 2,000 grams cocaine in Lee County

A Texas man has been found guilty of trafficking 2,000 grams of cocaine in Lee County.

Baldomero Alanis Jr., 44, was arrested in 2023 for his involvement in a drug smuggling operation that was operating out of Texas and Mexico and being run by a large-scale drug trafficker named Juan Manuel Lopez, aka "Pac-Man," officials said.

The Cape Coral Police Department, in conjunction with the Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit's Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated Lopez...

The News-Press • March 26 2025

Fort Myers man sentenced to life in prison for molesting 9-year-old

A Fort Myers man has just been sentenced to life in prison for molesting a 9-year-old. A jury found Nilson Ramos-Pereira, 42, guilty last month following a jury trial in which he was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, according to the Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit. It was revealed that Ramos-Pereira had been inappropriately touching the victim for at least a year – between April 2022 and April 2023 — when the victim began disclosing various inci...

Fort Myers News-Press • March 18 2025

Over 80 pounds of drugs seized: 52 arrests in drug bust operation by Lee sheriff's office

Lee County deputies made 52 arrests in a long-term investigation that targeted drug dealers and narcotics sales, the office announced Monday.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Out of Luck," the Lee County Sheriff's Office removed large quantities of "deadly poison" over several months. The sheriff's office said the seized goods include:

The sheriff's office executed more than 30 search warrants in the process of this investigation.

Deputies attributed the crime rate decreasing by 12% in Le...

Naples Daily News • March 17 2025

Community mourns death of Clayton Miller, 14; struck by SUV while riding e-bike

A 14-year-old boy killed in Naples while riding his electric bicycle on Saturday afternoon is identified in a GoFundMe campaign as Clayton Miller.

"Clayton was not only a kind and loving son and brother but also a cherished grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, and teammate. His absence leaves an unfillable void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him," the organizer of the fundraiser, Tahlia Urbinati, wrote.

Miller was struck by an SUV while riding an e-bike through the intersection of Madiso...

Fort Myers News-Press • March 14 2025

Grand theft auto: Five wanted targets arrested in car theft crime ring, 80 vehicles stolen

Five accused targets in a national car theft crime ring stemming from Fort Myers face charges after their Tuesday arrest by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

When department agents in Fort Myers identified 12 stolen vehicles from counties including Lee and Collier, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into identifying those involved.

Agents learned that the suspects lived in the Tampa Bay area and targeted airport rental vehicles which they had intent to...

Naples Daily News • March 12 2025

Missing Naples teenager's body found in pond, cause of death under investigation

A Naples teenager's dead body was recovered from a pond by Collier County deputies. Armando Radius, 16, was found by the Collier County Sheriff's Office Dive Team about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday. The body was retrieved from a pond between Carnegie Way and Morgan Way in the Urban Estates of Naples, according to an incident report. The cause of death has not yet been determined. The Collier County Sheriff's Office made a Facebook post earlier Tuesday reporting Radius missing. In the post, it was stated that R...

Naples Daily News • March 10 2025

Guilty as charged: Naples man sentenced to life in prison for murder

A Naples man was sentenced to life in prison for running over and killing his fiancé with his minivan. Donald Lee Whitaker, 53, was found guilty as charged for second-degree murder after a four-day jury trial. In addition to serving life in prison, he must pay more than $20,000 in fines and fees, according to the Collier County Clerk of Courts. Whitaker was initially arrested in November 2022 after Collier County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a crime scene along Dove Tree Street in Golde...

Naples Daily News • March 6 2025

Miami man sentenced to three decades in prison, trafficking 400 grams cocaine in SWFL

A Miami man will serve 30 years in prison for conspiring to traffic cocaine in Southwest Florida. Eugene Shadul Pla, Jr., 49, was arrested in 2020 after the Collier County Sheriff's Office began investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in the Fort Myers area, that was also connected to additional narcotics dealers in Collier County, according to the Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Pla was charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine of 400 grams or more. In...

Naples Daily News • March 5 2025

Marco Island drug trafficker sentenced to two decades in prison

A Marco Island man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on drug trafficking charges. Timothy Blaine Hickman, 38, was arrested in 2021 after Naples police officers found several drugs in trafficking amounts in a vehicle occupied by Hickman, according to the Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit. At the arrest, police officers approached a suspicious vehicle on Sandpiper Street in Naples, in which they were able to see a female driver and a male passenger, Hickman. According to an ar...

Naples Daily News • March 5 2025

Sexual predator arrested for living near playground in Naples, felony violation

A convicted sexual predator was arrested for living near a playground in violation of Florida residency restrictions.Luis Antonio Chavez, 85, was arrested on Tuesday after Collier County Sheriff's Office detectives, upon investigation, discovered that Chavez failed to comply with restrictions placed on persons convicted of certain sex offenses, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.Chavez is facing a first-degree felony charge for living within 1,000 feet of a school, park or playgrou...

Naples Daily News • March 3 2025

Teen charged in shooting death of Naples woman

A man was arrested in connection to the murder of a Naples woman who was shot and killed Wednesday. Emily Ruiz, 20, was shot between midnight and 1 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Texas Avenue and Mitchell Street in South Naples, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.Ruiz was pronounced deceased shortly after being transported to the hospital.Driver injures 2 women in Naples Manor crash; photo released of suspect. The shooter, Gael Garcia-Castro, 18, was arrested on Saturday and is...

Fort Myers News-Press • February 26 2025

Lehigh Acres church fire deemed arson, suspected arsonist still unknown

An arsonist set the fire that engulfed a Lehigh Acres church in Lehigh Acres, and investigators are searching for the suspect.

Last month, the Christ at the Crossroads Church on Homestead Road North in Lehigh Acres caught a large fire that caused significant destruction to the building's main sanctuary.

The ongoing investigation has led investigators to determining the cause of the fire as an arson incident, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Criminal Investigations Div...

Naples Daily News • February 24 2025

Island Boys rapper arrested in Naples on drug and gun charges

A member of the Island Boys rap group was arrested in Naples on charges of drug and gun possession. Franky Venegas, 23, was arrested on Sunday after a Collier County Sheriff's Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Venegas was a passenger, according to an arrest report. The Island Boys are a rap group made up of Venegas and his twin brother, Alex Venegas. The brothers became popular in 2021 after going viral on Tiktok for their song "I'm an Island Boy."The driver of the vehic...

Naples Daily News • February 24 2025

Texas fugitive wanted for murder found, awaiting extradition in Collier County

A Texas fugitive found in Collier County is waiting transfer to Dallas where he is wanted for murder, with an arraignment expected by St. Patrick's Day.

Angel Kelly Alejandro, 27, was arrested on Thursday when Florida Highway Patrol troopers found him walking along Alligator Alley, according to an arrest report.

Alejandro was identified by the Dallas Police Department as the killer of 46-year-old Hector Alvarez-Rosales.

Alejandro shot and killed Rosales inside a home in Dallas on July 4, 2024...

Fort Myers News-Press • February 22 2025

Florida Highway Patrol: Lehigh Acres man killed in hit and run, driver still unknown

A Lehigh Acres pedestrian was killed in a hit and run by an unknown vehicle Saturday morning.

At about 4:43 a.m., an unknown vehicle collided with a 60-year-old man at Lee Boulevard and Hannah Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The vehicle, which is possibly a gray Kia, left the accident location.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing.

The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone with information regarding t...

Naples Daily News • February 20 2025

Naples police chief appointed to Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council

The chief of the Naples Police Department joined the Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council - one of only four chiefs in the state. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier appointed Ciro Dominguez, according to the Naples Police Department. Dominguez brings more than 40 years of experience in law enforcement to the council. "I am grateful and ready to add value to the effort," Dominguez said. "The mission is to collaborate with other law enforcement executives, chiefs, and sheriffs to offer...

The News-Press • February 19 2025

Fort Myers woman found guilty of $338K wire fraud after stealing veterans benefits

A Fort Myers woman has been found guilty for committing wire fraud after impersonating her dead mother. Laurie Ann Roszelle, 65, was arrested last August after an investigation by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that Roszelle was appropriating benefit payments intended for her mother, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.Roszelle is the daughter of a veteran who died in 1996, upon which Roszelle's mother began receiving surv...

Naples Daily News • February 19 2025

Bicyclist in Naples dead after crash involving pickup truck

A bicyclist in Naples has died after sustaining critical injuries in a car crash with a pickup. The crash happened about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday on Country Road 951 and 17th Avenue Southwest, near Golden Gate, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bicyclist, 49, was transported to a nearby hospital where he died.The crash remains under investigation.

A bicyclist in Naples has died after sustaining critical injuries in a car crash with a pickup.

The crash happened about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday on Coun...

The News-Press • February 18 2025

Lehigh Acres man found guilty for molestation of two children

A Lee County jury found a Lehigh Acres man guilty of molesting two children younger than 12. Hemeregildo Gonzalez Ramos, 56, was arrested after he molested the children in a pool at a Lehigh Acres home, and also molested one of the child victims inside the home, according to the Office of the State Attorney Twentieth Judicial Circuit. One of the children told an adult what happened, which prompted an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.Ramos was convicted of two counts of lewd and las...