CCSO Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, March 29:

Immokalee and Goodlette-Frank roads - Speeding
Livingston Road and Bridgewater Bay Boulevard - Speeding
Euclid Avenue and Piper Boulevard– Aggressive driving

Tuesday, March 30:

Collier Boulevard and U.S. 41 East - Speeding
Immokalee Road and Heritage Greens Drive - Speeding
I-75 and Pine Ridge Road southbound exit - Red-light running

Wednesday, March 31:

U.S. 41 East and Turner River Road – Aggressive driving
Trade Center Way and Airport-Pulling Road – Aggressive driving
Oakes Boulevard and Immokalee Road - Speeding

Thursday, April 1:

Golden Gate and Everglades boulevards - Speeding
Lakewood and Davis boulevards – Red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road and Francis Avenue – Red-light running

Friday, April 2:

Pine Ridge and Goodlette-Frank roads – Red-light running
New Market Road - Speeding
U.S. 41 East and Auto Ranch Road - Speeding

Drug Arrest Results In 30-Year Sentence

A Naples man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison as a result of a Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrest for cocaine trafficking.

Francisco A. Baez, 43, 350 10th St. North #P2, also was assessed a $250,000 fine. He was sentenced by Collier County Circuit Court Judge Franklin Hardt.

Deputies served a search warrant on Baez’s home on March 18, 2009 after an investigation revealed that he was trafficking cocaine from the Miami area to Southwest Florida. Deputies were assisted by the Naples Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the State Attorney’s Office.

Items confiscated included 1,474 grams of cocaine valued at $45,000, a semi-automatic handgun, 15 rounds of ammunition and $63,000 in cash.

NN Woman Charged With Child Abuse

A North Naples woman was arrested Thursday after deputies say she hit a 5-month-old boy in the head, causing an injury that required hospitalization.

Cherie Marie Landowski, 24, 74 Erie Drive, was charged with aggravated child abuse.

This is what happened, according to Collier County Sheriff’s Office reports:

Landowski contacted the baby’s mother around noon and told her that the boy had been vomiting. When the mother arrived at Landowski’s home to pick him up, she saw that the baby had a bruise or abrasion on his forehead. When she asked Landowski how the child’s injury occurred, Landowski told her that a toy had stricken him accidentally.

The mother took the baby to the pediatrician, who told her to take him to the emergency room. By this time the baby was at times shaking and at other times going limp.

While he was in the emergency room at North Collier Hospital, the staff determined that the injury could not have been accidental and notified deputies. The infant was later transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. for specialized care.

As a result of the investigation, deputies determined that Landowski was responsible for causing the injury.

Protect Your Boat From Theft

Be aware and be prepared.

That’s the message the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is sending out to boat owners.

Deputies are asking the public to take steps to protect their boats from being stolen in the wake of suspicious incidents over the weekend and the theft of a $160,000 boat in northern Collier County.

Eldon Gardner, 46, Bonita Springs, contacted CCSO on Saturday after his 28’ 2006 Hydra-Sport boat was stolen from West Avenue and 3rd Street in Bonita Shores. The boat was on a lift with the power shut off at the time of the theft.

Deputies also investigated incidents in the Goodland area Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers spotted a Ford Expedition launching a 19-foot vessel off of State Road 92 near the Goodland Bridge and a white, full-size van, towing a personal watercraft. The men on the boat told the FWC officer that they were going to go fishing even though it was raining. The officer also noticed the fishing reels didn’t have any fishing line on them. A man on the personal watercraft said he was taking the vessel for a test ride because it recently had some work done. The white van drove away and the men were not identified at the time.

Around 8 p.m., a deputy located a Baja 28-foot go-fast-type boat with its lights off in the area of Goodland and towed it back to the Walkers Coon Key Marina, 604 E. Palm Ave. The passengers told investigators they launched the boat from Port of the Islands and were fishing when their navigation lights stopped working.

Around 11:30 p.m. a man was spotted by deputies walking out of a mangrove area toward the Ford Expedition on SR 92. The man told deputies he was out fishing with two other men, also without navigation lights, when the tide went out and their vessel got stuck in a canal.

Deputies say that in past boating thefts, personal watercraft and smaller vessels have been used to scout and assist with the thefts of vessels moored behind homes. Vans are also used to carry fuel once the vessels have been stolen.

CCSO offers these suggestions on how to protect your boat and property. If your boat is in the water or on a trailer:

· Keep the cabin locked and the curtains closed.
· Never leave the keys in the ignition or hide spare keys on the boat.
· When out of the water, store your boat in a well lit, secure area if possible.
· Select a marina with good security. It should be well lit and busy.
· If possible, store your boat in a locked garage, building or secure storage facility. If that is not possible, secure the trailer to something with a case-hardened chain and a quality lock.
· Consider one of the many wheel locks available on the market and use a quality tongue hitch on the trailer.
· Block the trailer against a building or other structure or vehicle.

If your boat is stored on a lift:

· Keep the power to the lift turned off, with the switch to the lift being in a remote location that’s not accessible to thieves.
· Install an alarm system and tracking device to aid in recovering the vessel in the event it is stolen.
· Some of the local marinas will install a remote switch on the vessel that keeps it from being started.

You can also secure your boat by:

· Recording serial numbers, hull numbers and model information of your boat and the equipment on your boat. Make two copies. Keep one in a safe place on the boat and one at home.
· Permanently mark all electronics and other valuable equipment with your driver’s license or state-issued identification number.
· Take pictures of your boat, boat equipment, and electronics to assist law enforcement in identifying them if stolen.
· Do not leave your registration on the boat when you are not aboard.
· Get to know neighboring boat owners and your boat storage or marina staff. They need to know who is normally around your boat.

Click here to view additional tips on boat safety.

If you see a crime being committed, call 911. If you have information concerning a crime, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239.252.9300. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

For more information on marine security, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Bureau at 239.252.0700, or e-mail prevention@colliersheriff.org

Update: Deputies Search For Missing EN Man

UPDATE: Orlando Moreno has been located and is safe.

Origninal news release:
Deputies Search For Missing EN Man

Posted Date: 3/23/2010 3:30 PM

Deputies are looking for an East Naples man who was last seen near his home at 10 a.m. this morning.

Orlando Moreno, 78, 5438 Carlton Street, was last seen on his bike, according to investigators. At the time he went missing he was wearing a gray undershirt, green long sleeved shirt, gray pants, black shoes and a camouflage hat. He is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.

Moreno was expected to return home by 2 p.m.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.


Orlando Moreno

Man Charged With 75 Counts Of Child Pornography

Detectives arrested a 36-year-old East Naples man Tuesday and charged him with 75 counts of possession of child pornography.

Robert Chester Hinote, 394 Leawood Circle, was arrested and booked into the Collier County jail.


In February detectives with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau Exploitation Unit began an undercover investigation in an attempt to identify persons using online file-sharing networks on the Internet to download and share child pornography, according to arrest reports.

Through the investigation detectives tracked child pornography files that were shared over the Internet to an Internet Protocol, or IP, to a desktop computer located on Leawood Circle. On Tuesday, detectives executed a search warrant at the residence, but a preliminary search of the computer did not turn up any files indicative of child pornography, reports said.

Upon further investigation, detectives discovered that the wireless router showed the name ROBDESKTOP with a MAC IP address as a computer that was currently using the Internet service at the residence.

The homeowner told deputies that her neighbor Hinote had approached her husband in February about sharing the couple’s Internet service if they agreed to split the cost of a wireless router. Her husband agreed to do so, reports said.

Detectives then went to Hinote’s residence and he gave them permission to search the computer. A preliminary forensic review of the computer turned up 75 video and picture files showing boys and girls engaged in sex acts with adults and alone. The children ranged in age from 4 to 12, reports said.

Many of the picture files showed children who appeared to be around 4 years old engaged in sex acts with an adult male, reports said.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the residence and retrieved additional computers, which are being forensically analyzed, reports said.

An investigation continues.

Deputies Search For Missing EN Man

Deputies are looking for an East Naples man who was last seen near his home at 10 a.m. this morning.

Orlando Moreno, 78, 5438 Carlton Street, was last seen on his bike, according to investigators. At the time he went missing he was wearing a gray undershirt, green long sleeved shirt, gray pants, black shoes and a camouflage hat. He is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.

Moreno was expected to return home by 2 p.m.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.

Discard Unused Rx Pills At CCSO

The public can now discard their unused medication at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

CCSO and Drug Free Collier have partnered to offer a permanent site where people can dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription drugs.

People can dispose of their bottles and pills - no questions asked - in a lock box, located in the first floor main lobby at CCSO headquarters, Building J, 3301 U.S. 41 E., East Naples.

The white box has the CCSO logo on it and says “Prescription Drop Off Box.” The public can discard unused medication in this box from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays

The box is monitored.

Medication, including liquids, must be placed in a bottle or container before being placed in the vault.

CCSO will take the appropriate measures to dispose of the medicine.

Teen Missing In Golden Gate

Deputies are searching for a 16-year-old Golden Gate girl who has been missing since late Friday night.

Alexandra Attard was last seen by her parents leaving their Quartz Lane residence around 9:30 p.m. and getting into a black two-door vehicle driven by a friend, deputies said.

Her parents told deputies that they believe Alexandra may harm herself, deputies said.

Deputies said the teen is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 120 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt, a dark blue hooded jacket, blue jeans and sandals.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.

CCSO Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, March 22:

Airport-Pulling Road and Coach House Lane – Speeding
Goodlette-Frank Road and Pompei Lane - Speeding
Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Valley Stream Drive – Aggressive driving

Tuesday, March 23:

Immokalee Road and Veterans Park Drive – Aggressive driving
Santa Barbara Boulevard and Coronado Parkway – Red-light running
Airport-Pulling Road and Galleria Drive - Speeding

Wednesday, March 24:

U.S. 41 North and Wiggins Pass Road – Red-light running
Golden Gate and Wilson boulevards - Speeding
Immokalee Road – Red-light running

Thursday, March 25:

Orange Blossom Drive and Yarberry Lane – Speeding
Vanderbilt Beach Road and Logan Boulevard – Red-light running
Estey Avenue at East Naples Middle School – Aggressive driving

Friday, March 26:

Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard – Red-light running
Santa Barbara Boulevard at Calusa Park Elementary – Aggressive driving
Randall Boulevard - Speeding

Leaders Learning About Law

Greater Naples Leadership members learned about the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and other Collier County government agencies as part of the nonprofit organization’s annual Law Day event Wednesday.

The event was held at the Collier County Emergency Services Center in East Naples.

Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk and U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence Officer Frederick Wilson discussed immigration, crime and operational interaction within Collier County. Cmdr. Beth Jones of CCSO’s Youth and Delinquency Services Division, Collier County Circuit Judge Lauren Brodie and Guardian Ad Litem representative Don Campbell discussed prevention and intervention approaches to the juvenile justice system.

The group got an up-close look at the CCSO Communications Center with Cmdr. Bill Rule of CCSO's Communication's Group. Emergency Services Director Dan Summers led them on a tour of the ESC. They learned about traffic safety from Lt. Harold Minch of CCSO’s Safety Traffic and Enforcement Bureau. They also visited the CCSO gun range, where they got to shoot a firearm and see demonstrations from the Bomb Squad, SWAT and K9 units.


Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk addresses Greater Naples Leadership members during the nonprofit organization's annual Law Day event at the Collier County Emergency Services Center on Wednesday. Photos by Kristi Lester/CCSO (3)


Cmdr. Beth Jones of CCSO's Youth and Delinquency Services Division.




Cmdr. Bill Rule of CCSO's Communications Group.

Traffic Safety Campaign Nets 562 Citations

Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies issued 562 citations during the two-week “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

Cpl. Chris Thomas of the agency’s Safety and Traffic Enforcement Bureau was the top producer, issuing 90 citations during the campaign, which ran from March 1 through March 15.

The purpose of the special enforcement effort was to increase safety belt use and to reduce fatalities on the roads in Collier County.

The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $113 in Collier County. The fine for a child restraint violation is $163.

Collier County continues to have the highest safety belt compliance rate – 92 percent – in Florida, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Deputies conducted various countywide heightened enforcement details during the campaign to draw attention to the importance of safety belt use.

In 2009, 22 people killed in traffic crashes in Collier County weren’t wearing their seat belts.

CCSO reminds motorists that drivers in Collier County can be pulled over by deputies for not buckling up. In May 2009 Florida became the 28th state to have primary offense safety belt laws. Previously, drivers could only be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt if they were pulled over for another offense, such as speeding. The recent law allows deputies to stop drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belt.

2 Arrested In Estates Grow House Bust

WHAT: Marijuana grow house bust

WHEN: Tuesday, March 16

LOCATION: 2621 20th Ave. N.E., Golden Gate Estates

ARRESTED: Olga Caridad, 45, 2621 20th Ave. N.E., Golden Gate Estates

CHARGES: Marijuana trafficking over 25 pounds
Possession of drug equipment

ARRESTED: Giovanni Gil, 22, 802 Mawry Drive E., Miami

CHARGES: Marijuana trafficking over 25 pounds
Possession of marijuana under 20 grams
Possession of drug equipment

SUMMARY: Deputies investigating a suspected indoor marijuana grow house at this address arrested Caridad and Gil and turned up marijuana plants worth $60,000, sheriff’s reports said.

Caridad and Gil were present at the residence when deputies conducted the search, reports said.

Deputies discovered the garage had been modified to grow marijuana. There were 20 marijuana plants inside the garage, along with equipment related to the growing of marijuana. The equipment included additional cooling units, transformers, and additional high-intensity lighting, reports said.

The plants weighed 33.15 pounds and had an estimated street value of $60,000. The equipment was worth $5,000, reports said.

Deputies also found 15.9 grams of marijuana in a bedroom. The marijuana belonged to Gil and had an estimated street value of $150, reports said.

Further investigation by deputies found that there was an active warrant for Gil’s arrest out of Palm Beach County on a forgery charge, reports said.

Olga Caridad


Giovanni Gil

Celebrate O' Safely

St. Patrick’s Day can be a lot of fun, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind revelers to celebrate responsibly.

CCSO recommends the following safety precautions:

• Plan a safe way home before the celebration begins.

• Designate a sober driver before anyone begins drinking.

• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or call a sober friend or family member to get home.

• If you see a drunken driver on the road in Collier County, call 911 or 239.252.9300

Missing Man Found Safe

UPDATE
Deputies have located Aysta and his is safe.
****************

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 35-year-old North Naples man who went missing Monday night.

Robert Aysta was last heard from by a family member on Monday evening, deputies said. Family members believe Aysta may harm himself, according to deputies.

Aysta is described as white, 6 feet 4 inches and 235 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

It is not know what he is wearing. He may be driving a rented light color Toyota, deputies said.

Anyone with information about Aysta's whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.

Safeguarding Our Seniors

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Financial Services will host an informational session for seniors on how to avoid becoming victims of financial fraud on Thursday, March 18.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Golden Gate. Those who attend will learn about various scams and how to protect themselves from falling victim to them. The Division of Consumer Services, Area Agency on Aging, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and the AARP will also be available.

Click here for more information or call 850.413.3089.

Deputies Seek Public’s Help In NN Vandalism Incident

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person who vandalized property at a North Naples condominium this week.

On Tuesday around 4:55 a.m. someone used black spray paint to vandalize the front sign, 23 beach chairs, seven umbrellas and five small tables at Moraya Bay, 11125 Gulfshore Drive, investigators said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252.9300, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.780.TIPS (8477).

Cocaine Trafficking Arrest Nets Man 30 Years In Prison

A 29-year-old East Naples man who deputies say was transporting more than 4 pounds of cocaine on Interstate 75 to be distributed in the Naples area has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

At a hearing Thursday, Collier County Circuit Judge Franklin G. Baker sentenced Daniel Cisneros, 4705 Lombarty Lane, to state prison on charges of trafficking cocaine over 400 grams and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

A jury found Cisneros guilty of the first-degree felony charges following his trial in circuit court in February.

The case was the culmination of a six-month investigation by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Detectives said Cisneros was part of an organized crime group that was involved in the transportation and distribution of cocaine from Mexico to Texas, Tampa and Southwest Florida.

CCSO reports gave this account of his arrest:

CCSO detectives arrested Cisneros on Sept. 5, 2006, following a traffic stop near the 103 mile marker of Interstate 75.

While detectives were writing a warning to Cisneros for having illegal window tint on the sport utility vehicle he was driving, a drug-sniffing dog indicated that there were drugs hidden inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle turned up 2 kilos of cocaine concealed in a green military-style ammunition can inside the vehicle. The cocaine had an estimated street value of $40,000.

Detectives said Cisneros was transporting the cocaine from Tampa for distribution in the Naples area.

CCSO Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, March 15:

Pine Ridge Road and Whippoorwill Lane – Red-light running
U.S. 41 East and Sonoma Boulevard - Speeding
Goodlette-Frank and Carica roads - Speeding

Tuesday, March 16:

U.S. 41 North and Old U.S. 41 – Red-light running
Collier and Capri boulevards – Aggressive driving
Rattlesnake Hammock Road - Speeding

Wednesday, March 17:

Airport-Pulling Road at Pelican Marsh Elementary – Speeding
Vanderbilt Beach Road and Hammock Oak Drive – Aggressive driving
Radio Road and San Marcos Boulevard – Aggressive driving

Thursday, March 18:

Immokalee Road and Wilson Boulevard - Speeding
U.S. 41 East and Commercial Drive – Red-light running
Golden Gate Parkway and Tropicana Boulevard - Speeding

Friday, March 19:

Immokalee Road and Northbrooke Drive – Red-light running
Logan Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road – Aggressive driving
Golden Gate and Wilson boulevards - Speeding

Join Your Public Safety Professionals Saturday

WHAT: Community Safety Service Day

WHEN: Saturday, March 20

WHERE: Fleming’s Steakhouse, 8985 U.S. 41 N., North Naples

TIME: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SUMMARY: Spend the day with your Collier County public safety professionals on Saturday.

The event will feature a Collier County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad presentation and members of the agency’s K-9 and SWAT units. Participants can take a tour of CCSO’s mobile Crime Scene van. They can also meet firefighters will and see a ladder truck and an antique fire truck. U.S. Armed Forces recruiters will also be on hand.

There will be music, prizes, food and fun.

The event is sponsored by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, North Naples Fire Department, the U.S. Armed Forces and Fleming’s Steakhouse.

CCSO Remembers Former Sheriff Aubrey Rogers

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of former Sheriff Aubrey Rogers, who died early Wednesday morning after a long illness. He was 83.

Flags at CCSO are being flown at half-staff and deputies are wearing black stripes on their badges in honor of Rogers, who served as sheriff from 1975 until his retirement in 1989.

Rogers was born in Fort Myers on Aug. 27, 1926. He moved to Naples in 1957, when he was 31 years old. Early in his high school life Rogers began to think about a career in law enforcement. He as a child had a great uncle who was a U. S. Marshal, and a best friend’s father who was a policeman. They greatly influenced his future in law enforcement, so in 1948, at the age of 22 he went to work for the Fort Myers Police Department, which at that time had only a handful of officers.

In 1957, then Collier County Sheriff E. A. Doug Hendry hired Rogers, whom he had previously worked with at the Fort Myers Police Department, to work in the Everglades jail.

When he began his career as a deputy at CCSO, Rogers earned 74 cents an hour. He eventually became Sheriff Hendry’s chief deputy.

On Nov. 19, 1975, then-Florida Gov. Reuben Askew appointed Rogers as sheriff of Collier County, replacing Hendry, who had resigned.

Rogers held office for 13 years, running as a Democrat in a mostly Republican county. He was succeeded by his former chief deputy, Don Hunter, who was elected sheriff in 1988.

During his tenure, Sheriff Rogers successfully carried the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in an era of tremendous growth. For Sheriff Rogers, the only way to cope with a growing Collier County was to have an agency that was growing right along with it.

Sheriff Rogers embodied a unique blend of crime-fighting and community service during his years as the head of the agency. He successfully battled moonshiners and Miami’s cocaine cowboys while developing an agency-wide focus on community and youth services. In essence, Sheriff Rogers laid the foundation for the progressive law enforcement agency we have today.

For a man who never really had his eye set on being a sheriff, Rogers brought a lot of history to CCSO. Here are some of his accomplishments during his 31 years as a member of CCSO:

In 1959 Rogers became the first “investigator” with the implementation of a new Investigations Bureau of the agency.

In 1978 Sheriff Rogers introduced “CB radios’ into the communications center so that dispatchers could listen for emergency calls and talk to truckers traveling the desolate Alligator Alley.

In January 1978, Sheriff Rogers, the Collier County Fair Board and the Mighty Blue Grass Shows worked in concert to provide a new benefit for fourth-grade children involved in the Junior Deputy Program -- they added a trip to the Collier County Fair, a tradition that continues today.

In January 1979, in order to address rising and constantly moving crime, FOCUS was formed under the direction of Sheriff Rogers. The team could be deployed anywhere in the county. The team was basically a five-man unit that could deploy to handle special crime problems such as burglaries and provide surveillance. FOCUS stood for: Flexible Operations Component Unzoned Support.

Rogers brought the 911 system to Collier County.

Rogers brought laser technology to the crime scene realm for analyzing fingerprints.

Rogers was instrumental in combating drunk drivers with the first Bat Mobile (blood alcohol testing van).

Rogers was instrumental in developing the Junior Deputy League.

Rogers brought deputies into the Collier County schools with the creation of the Youth Relations Deputies (YRD).

Rogers worked with the DEA and other federal agencies to combat drugs on a local and national basis.

Rogers started the agency’s awards programs, issuing the first Purple Heart and Meritorious Service medals.

NOTE: CCSO would like to thank the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Alumni Association for its assistance in gathering historical information about Sheriff Rogers’ career.

Safety Checkpoint Planned

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a comprehensive roadside safety checkpoint at the Corkscrew Fire Station 11 off of Immokalee Road, Golden Gate Estates. The goal of the 6 to 9 a.m. checkpoint is to keep roads safe by identifying equipment violations and improper vehicle documentation.

CCSO reminds all motorists that they should always make sure their vehicle is in safe condition with the proper equipment.

Teaming Up For Bike Safety

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Collier County Community Traffic Safety Team partnered up to host a bike rodeo during the Miracle Limbs Fundraiser on Saturday, March 6 at North Collier Regional Park. Cpl. Jeffrey Hoel, left, and Community Service Deputy Robbie Lewis from the Safety Traffic Enforcement Bureau helped properly fit free helmets and inform students the importance of bicycle safety.

Steer Clear Of Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive drivers make roads unsafe for everyone, particularly in places like Southwest Florida where traffic can get heavy.

That’s why motorists should be aware of how they can spot aggressive drivers and know what to do when they encounter them. Click here to see the CCSO’s tip sheet on coping with aggressive drivers.

Clean Up Golden Gate

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office, along with Code Enforcement, Utilities and Waste Management will help residents clean up the Golden Gate area Saturday morning.

From 9 a.m. to noon, dumpsters will be available at 4400 Golden Gate Parkway and at 18th Avenue and 41st Street S.W. for residents to dispose of tires, yard waste and debris.

For more information contact CCSO Cpl. Robert Capizzi at 239.530.9833.

Safety Belt Enforcement Campaign Under Way

Deputies are looking for drivers and passengers who don’t buckle up during a safety belt enforcement campaign under way.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is participating in a “Click It or Ticket” safety belt campaign, which began March 1 and ends March 15.

The purpose of the special enforcement effort is to increase safety belt use and to reduce fatalities on the roads in Collier County.

The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $113 in Collier County. The fine for a child restraint violation is $163.

Collier County continues to have the highest safety belt compliance rate – 92 percent – in Florida, according to the state Department of Transportation.

“The goal is 100 percent voluntary compliance,” said Sgt. Chris Gonzalez of CCSO’s Safety Traffic Enforcement Bureau.

Deputies will conduct various countywide heightened enforcement details and efforts to draw attention to the importance of safety belt use.

In 2009, 22 people killed in traffic crashes in Collier County weren’t wearing their seat belts.

CCSO reminds motorists that drivers in Collier County can be pulled over by deputies for not buckling up. In May 2009 Florida became the 28th state to have primary offense safety belt laws. Previously, drivers could only be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt if they were pulled over for another offense, such as speeding. The recent law allows deputies to stop drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belt.

CCSO Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, March 8:

Devonshire and Belville boulevards – Aggressive driving
U.S. 41 North and Pelican Bay Boulevard – Red-light running
66th Street S.W. and Golden Gate Parkway - Speeding

Tuesday, March 9:

Immokalee Road and Laurel Oak Elementary - Speeding
Oakes Boulevard – Aggressive driving
Palm River Boulevard – Aggressive driving

Wednesday, March 10:

Golden Gate Boulevard and 25th Street S.W. - Speeding
Airport-Pulling Road and Curling Avenue – Aggressive driving
Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard – Red-light running

Thursday, March 11:

Orange Blossom Drive and Yarberry Lane – Aggressive driving
Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard – Red-light running
Industrial Boulevard - Speeding

Friday, March 12:

Immokalee Road and Veterans Park Drive – Aggressive driving
U.S. 41 East and Lely Resort Boulevard - Speeding
Victory Lane at Palmetto Ridge High School – Aggressive driving

Thank You, CCSO

The letter below was featured in the Naples Daily News' Letter to the Editor section.


Take their red-light advice

Editor, Daily News:

I recently attended a senior program at the Golden Gate Community Center.

An officer from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office explained the right-on-red law and the new camera program to enforce it.

It all makes sense. It is an attempt to penalize (fine) those who disobey the law and in the process potentially save lives. It’s simple:

1. If the light is red, stop before the stop bar (that’s the wide white line).

2. Check to make sure it’s safe to proceed (that includes looking for bicyclists).

3. Proceed with caution.

The cameras collect plenty of information. They record your speed as you approach the stop bar. They take a picture of your license plate. They record if you come to a complete stop or a rolling stop; the latter is not legal.

Why are people angry about a law that may save lives? I am now very conscious about slowing down when I approach a potential red light, where I stop — not beyond the stop bar or into a crosswalk — and what other cars are doing (and there are plenty of folks who disobey the law).

I think that drivers in Florida are some of the worst drivers I’ve ever seen, and that includes the Boston area where I come from. Running red lights is a game — a deadly game.

Don’t get me started on drivers who talk on their cell phones while driving. That’s the subject for another letter to the editor.

— Dick Mortenson

Naples

Citizens, Safety and Hot Dogs

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will provide free hot dogs and lemonade to Golden Gate residents during a Friday Night Franks event Friday evening.

Residents can meet at the corner of 16th Place S.W. and 41st Street S.W. from 5 to 7 p.m. for a chance to talk one-on-one with deputies and learn about the various things they can do to stay safe. The West Coast Muscle Car Club will also be there to display 15-20 of their vehicles.

For more information, contact Cpl. Robert Capizzi at 239.530.9833.

*MEDIA NOTE: This event provides photo/video opportunities.

Sheriff Honored With Patriot Award

The Department of Defense honored Collier County Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk on Tuesday for his commitment to CCSO deputies serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Sheriff Rambosk received the Patriot Award from the Florida Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense.

Phil Speak, Florida ESGR state chairman, said the Patriot Award recognizes individuals “who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered the nation’s call to serve.”

Sheriff Rambosk was nominated for the award by Sgt. Gary T. Martin, who is assigned to the CCSO substation in Golden Gate. Martin serves as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve 45th Security Forces Squadron at Patrick Air Reserve Base

“Sheriff Rambosk has been very supportive of my military service,’’ Sgt. Martin wrote in his nomination letter. “He knows my civilian job is similar to my military position so that I get extra training and experiences on drill weekends and during annual training.”

Sheriff Rambosk said he was honored to be recognized with the Patriot Award. The award is special because he was nominated by a deputy, the sheriff added.

“I will continue to support the good men and women of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office who serve in the military, and their families, by providing a work environment that gives those employees the opportunity to serve our country.”

Collier County Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk, center, was honored Tuesday with a Patriot Award. The award recognizes employers for employment policies and practices that are supportive of employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve. Gary Cyr, left, of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, presented the award to Sheriff Rambosk at CCSO headquarters. Sgt. Gary Martin, right, who serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, nominated the sheriff for the award. Photo by Natalie Felber/CCSO

Missing East Naples Woman Found

UPDATE: Cheryl DeMarco has been located and is safe.


Original news release
Deputies Search For Missing EN Woman
Collier County Sheriff's Office
Posted Date: 3/2/2010 11:00 PM

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 51-year-old East Naples woman who has been missing since Tuesday morning.

Cheryl DeMarco was last seen by her husband around 10:30 a.m. in the area of the Collier County Health Department, 3301 U.S. 41 E., Building H, East Naples, deputies said.

Family members believe DeMarco may harm herself, according to deputies.

Deputies said DeMarco is described as white, 5 feet 4 inches and 115 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a white sweater and blue jean pants.

She does not have access to a vehicle, deputies said.

Anyone with information about DeMarco’s whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.

Deputies Search For Missing EN Woman

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 51-year-old East Naples woman who has been missing since Tuesday morning.

Cheryl DeMarco was last seen by her husband around 10:30 a.m. in the area of the Collier County Health Department, 3301 U.S. 41 E., Building H, East Naples, deputies said.

Family members believe DeMarco may harm herself, according to deputies.

Deputies said DeMarco is described as white, 5 feet 4 inches and 115 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a white sweater and blue jean pants.

She does not have access to a vehicle, deputies said.

Anyone with information about DeMarco’s whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 252-9300.

Safety Checkpoint Planned

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a comprehensive roadside safety checkpoint at Warren Street, East Naples. The goal of the 6 to 9 a.m. checkpoint is to keep roads safe by identifying equipment violations and improper vehicle documentation.

CCSO reminds all motorists that they should always make sure their vehicle is in safe condition with the proper equipment.

Senior Safety To Be Meeting Topic

WHAT: Minority Affairs Task Force meeting

WHEN: Thursday, March 4

TIME: 10 to 11 a.m.

WHERE: One Stop, 750 South 1st Street, Immokalee

SUMMARY: The Collier County Sheriff’s Office Minority Affairs Task Force will meet Thursday. Victim Services Supervisor Angela Larson and Senior Services Specialist Jackie Borchers will discuss how to prevent seniors from becoming victims.

For more information, contact CCSO’s Minority and Ethic Affairs Unit at 239-530-5660.