Public Invited To ID Theft Forum Nov. 6

"Don't let some turkey gobble your identity this holiday.''

That is the theme of a free public forum sponsored by the Collier County Identity Theft Coalition set for 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 at the Community Room of the Naples Daily News, 1100 Immokalee Road, North Naples.

A panel of expert speakers will advise who to avoid being victimized and how to minimize damages if online predators are successful.

Guests include: Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk; Carrie Kerskie, a private investigator, author and leader of the ID Fraud Institute at Hodges University; Theresa Ronnebaum from the Florida Attorney General's Office; Kim Lappin of the Internal Revenue Service; and Naples securities fraud attorney Chris Vernon. Retired NDN editorial page editor Jeff Lytle will moderate.

The capacity of the NDN Community Room is limited to the first 150 people to arrive. 

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Nov. 2:

Glades Boulevard and Palm Drive - Red-light running
Immokalee Drive and North 15th Street – Red-Light running
Old 41 Road and Tamiami Trail North - Speeding

Tuesday, Nov. 3:

Goodlette-Frank Road and Pelican Marsh Boulevard – Speeding
Davis Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard – Speeding
Pine Ridge Road at Pine Ridge Middle School- Speeding

Wednesday, Nov. 4:

23rd Avenue SW and 49th Terrace SW - Speeding
Golden Gate Parkway and Tropicana Boulevard – Red-light running
Shadowlawn Drive at Shadowlawn Elementary – Aggressive driving

Thursday, Nov. 5:

Santa Barbara and Devonshire boulevards - Aggressive driving
Vanderbilt Beach and Livingston roads – Aggressive Driving
Everglades and Randall boulevards – Red-Light running

Friday, Nov. 6:

Oil Well and Immokalee roads – Red-Light running
Naples Boulevard – Speeding
Green and Collier Boulevards- Aggressive Driving

Deputies Search For Missing East Naples Woman

UPDATE: Ma-Carmen Arreguin Rodriguez has been found safe. 

CCSO Corrections Achieves Excelsior Status Accreditation

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded Excelsior Status by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission(FCAC).

Excelsior Status is the FCAC’s highest form of recognition for continued excellence in the field of Corrections accreditation. To achieve Excelsior status, a Florida agency must have achieved initial accredited status and then achieve five successful re-accreditation assessments without conditions. Assessments are conducted at three-year intervals, therefore the Excelsior process takes approximately 15 years for an agency to acquire.

In July, a team of assessors examined all aspects of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The assessors commended CCSO members for their knowledge and enthusiasm. They also commended several programs, including the 2^nd Chance Cell Dog Program, a partnership between the CCSO and the Humane Society of Naples.   This program gives puppies a second chance at life and at the same time teaches inmates valuable life and job skills in the areas of dog training, grooming and veterinary assistant skills that they will be able to use after they complete their sentences. The assessors said they planned to take information regarding this programs back to their own agencies.

CCSO was reaccredited October 6, 2015, in Weston, FL. The agency received initial accreditation from the FCAC in 2000, and has been reaccredited every three years since then.

Undergoing the voluntary state accreditation process provides an agency with a quality assurance review and encourages intense self-scrutiny, resulting in more efficient and effective daily operations.

Becoming accredited by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission is considered a significant accomplishment and this status is held in high esteem by the criminal justice community.

CCSO has been nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since 1994, and accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) since 1999. 

Sexual Predator On The Move

Name: Kenneth J. Thomas

Date of birth: April 24, 1958

Description: White male, 6 feet tall, 240 pounds, brown and blue eyes

Current address: 3838 Exchange Ave., East Naples

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has notified the Collier County Sheriff’s Office that registered sexual predator Kenneth J. Thomas has moved and currently resides at 3838 Exchange Avenue, East Naples.

Kenneth J. Thomas is designated as a sexual predator pursuant to Section FSS 775.21. His qualifying offenses are Lewd/Lascivious Molestation Victim Under 12 years; F.S. 800.04(5)

Positive identification cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made.

If further information is needed, please contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender/Predator Unit at 239.530.5699, or via e-mail at sexoffenderunit@colliersheriff.net. Or contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Sexual Offender/Predator Unit at 1-888-FL-Predator (1-888-357-7332) from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. You may also go to the FDLE Sexual Predator/Offender website at http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/.

Click here to view the CCSO sexual predator alert.

UPDATE 2: investigation Underway In East Naples

UPDATE 2: The suspect has been identified as Michelle Esch, 46, address currently unknown. She sometimes also went by the name Michelle Burg. 

CCSO is conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting, which will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for review.

Deputies who discharged their weapons will be placed on administrative leave, which is the agency’s policy and typical in deputy-involved shootings. An administrative investigation will also be conducted to ensure that the deputies acted in accordance with Sheriff’s Office policy.

UPDATE: The suspect has died. Her identity will be released once her family has been notified.

Original Release:

A female suspect has been transported to the hospital after a shooting involving deputies on Tamiami Trail East near Treviso Bay.

The call began at 12:22 p.m. when deputies responded to a report that a suspect had attempted a car-jacking at Sunshine Ace Hardware, 4433 Tamiami Trail East. Witnesses told deputies that when the suspect was unsuccessful she then ran to the nearby Boca Bargoons, 4425 Tamiami Trail East, where she again unsuccessfully attempted to carjack someone. After that she ran to Perkins restaurant, 4335 Tamiami Trail East, where she carried out a carjacking.

She headed east on Tamiami Trail in the stolen vehicle. Deputies soon spotted her and began following her, and there was a confrontation near the Treviso Bay entrance. No deputies were injured.

Additional details will be released as they become available. 

UPDATE: Investigation Underway In East Naples

UPDATE: The suspect has died. Her identity will be released once her family has been notified.

Original Release:

A female suspect has been transported to the hospital after a shooting involving deputies on Tamiami Trail East near Treviso Bay.

The call began at 12:22 p.m. when deputies responded to a report that a suspect had attempted a car-jacking at Sunshine Ace Hardware, 4433 Tamiami Trail East. Witnesses told deputies that when the suspect was unsuccessful she then ran to the nearby Boca Bargoons, 4425 Tamiami Trail East, where she again unsuccessfully attempted to carjack someone. After that she ran to Perkins restaurant, 4335 Tamiami Trail East, where she carried out a carjacking.

She headed east on Tamiami Trail in the stolen vehicle. Deputies soon spotted her and began following her, and there was a confrontation near the Treviso Bay entrance. No deputies were injured.

Additional details will be released as they become available.

Investigation Underway In East Naples

A female suspect has been transported to the hospital after a shooting involving deputies on Tamiami Trail East near Treviso Bay.

The call began at 12:22 p.m. when deputies responded to a report that a suspect had attempted a car-jacking at Sunshine Ace Hardware, 4433 Tamiami Trail East.  Witnesses told deputies that when the suspect was unsuccessful she then ran to the nearby Boca Bargoons, 4425 Tamiami Trail East, where she again unsuccessfully attempted to carjack someone.  After that she ran to Perkins restaurant, 4335 Tamiami Trail East, where she carried out a carjacking.

She headed east on Tamiami Trail in the stolen vehicle. Deputies soon spotted her and began following her, and there was a confrontation near the Treviso Bay entrance. No deputies were injured.

Additional details will be released as they become available.

Traffic Enforcement Spots

Monday, Oct. 19:
Pine Ridge Road and Forest Lakes Boulevard - Red-light running
Livingston Road and Marbella Lakes Drive - Aggressive driving
Immokalee Road and Twin Eagles Boulevard – Speeding

Tuesday, Oct. 20:

Vanderbilt Beach Road and Wilshire Lakes Boulevard – Speeding
Goodlette-Frank and Solana roads – Speeding
Radio and Airport-Pulling roads – Red-light running

Wednesday, Oct. 21:

Coronado Parkway – Speeding
County Barn Road and Davis Boulevard – Aggressive driving
Lake Trafford Road and N 15th Street - Red-Light running

Thursday, Oct. 22:

Tropicana Boulevard and 32nd Avenue SW- Aggressive driving
Airport-Pulling Road at Pelican Marsh Elementary- Aggressive driving
White and Collier boulevards- Speeding

Friday, Oct. 23:

Santa Barbara Boulevard at Calusa Park Elementary – Speeding
Tarpon Bay Boulevard and Spanish Oaks Lane- Aggressive driving
Sunshine Boulevard – Speeding

UPDATE: Deputies Searching For North Naples Woman

UPDATE: Deputies Searching For North Naples Woman

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 55-year-old woman who has been missing since Monday afternoon.

Family members last saw Romona Daugs around 5 p.m. at her home, 66 Willoughby Drive.

Family members say Daugs suffers from dementia.  Daugs is white, 5 feet 4 inches tall and 175 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing an unknown colored top, shorts and black Crocs.

Deputies believe Daugs left her home on foot and may be in the neighboring area. She may be hiding near bushes, ditches, porches or cars. CCSO deputies, Collier County EMS and fire departments are searching the neighborhood and nearby wooden area while using ATVs, K9s, search-and-rescue bloodhounds and helicopter. More than 100 first responders are participating in the search.

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

Deputies Searching For North Naples Woman

Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 55-year-old woman who has been missing since Monday afternoon.

Family members last saw Romona Daugs around 5 p.m. at her home, 66 Willoughby Drive.

Family members say Daugs suffers from dementia.  Daugs is white, 5 feet 4 inches tall and 175 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing an unknown colored top, shorts and black Crocs.

Deputies believe Daugs left her home on foot and may be in the neighboring area. She may be hiding near bushes, ditches, porches or cars. CCSO deputies, Collier County EMS and fire departments are searching the neighborhood and nearby wooden area while using ATVs, K9s, search-and-rescue bloodhounds and helicopter. More than 100 first responders are participating in the search.

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

Celebrate Safe Communities With CCSO

Let’s celebrate!

Starting tonight and continuing through Friday, deputies will join forces with residents in celebrations across Collier County to promote community safety.

Celebrating Safe Communities is designed to heighten crime prevention and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will celebrate the fight against crime by hosting family friendly events and activities that bring neighborhoods, communities, businesses and law enforcement together.

Festivities will include cookouts, bounce houses, face painting, wall climbing, and refreshments. Informational kiosks and demonstrations by representatives from area emergency services and county government agencies will also be featured.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

Here’s a look at the CCSO Celebrating Safe Communities events to be held around Collier County:

EVERGLADES CITY

Monday, Oct. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McLeod Park on Hibiscus Street West. This event will feature the CCSO D.A.R.E. car, rock-climbing wall, a bounce house and refreshments.

Deputies will be joined by representatives from the Ochopee Fire Department, U.S. National Park Service, Collier County Emergency Management, Collier County Emergency Medical Services, Florida Highway Patrol, Collier County Domestic Animal Services, Police Athletic League, Collier County Code Enforcement, Drug Free Collier, Copeland Baptist Church, Everglades Museum, and the Collier County Health Department.  
  

NORTH NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at THELOCKUP Self Storage parking lot, 1025 Piper Blvd. Festivities will include a demonstrations by the CCSO K-9 Unit and motorcycle deputies. The North Naples Fire Department will also perform a demonstration. The CCSO Crime Prevention Unit will offer safety information. The CCSO D.A.R.E.  car will be on display and the Mobile Crime Scene Lab will be open to tour.

There will also be a bounce house, rock-climbing wall, dunk tank, animals, and popcorn and food from area restaurants.

EAST NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 U.S. 41 E. Deputies will be joined by representatives from Drug Free Collier,  Florida Highway Patrol, Greater Naples Fire Department, Bikes For Tykes, and Collier County Emergency Management.

Kids can meet Smokey Bear and check out a swamp buggy. Attendees can view an alligator up close, courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

GOLDEN GATE

Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway. Explore the Golden Gate Fire Department’s fire safety house and fire truck. Experience the outdoors with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s alligator and airboat display.

Representatives from Drug Free Collier, Collier County Code Enforcement, Youth Haven, Shelter For Abused Women & Children, and the Kowiachobee Animal Preserve will be at the event with informational booths.

The event will also feature food, a dunk tank, face painting, CCSO rock wall, and health screenings.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES

Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Florida Forest Service, 710 Randall Blvd. Kids can jump around in the bounce house, climb the CCSO rock wall, learn about fire safety and climb the fire watch tower. Representatives of the Naples Pathways Coalition will provide bicycle tune-ups and bike safety education.

Participants can also meet with members of the Golden Gate Civic Association and the North Collier Fire Department, while enjoying food and refreshments.

AVE MARIA

Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd., Ave Maria. Meet McGruff the Crime Dog and members of CCSO, along with representatives from Collier County Code Enforcement, Collier County Utilities, Immokalee Fire Department, and Collier County Health Department.

Deputies will host a bicycle safety course and hand out bike helmets and offer bike and pedestrian safety helmet. Bike helmets will be handed out to children in need. Food and refreshments will be provided.     

   

 

Update: Man In Red Car Approached Teens In Golden Gate

UPDATE: A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with these incidents in Golden Gate.

Manuel Martinez Campos, 10605 Noah’s Circle, Golden Gate, was arrested Friday and charged with indecent exposure, a misdemeanor.

Detectives said Campos confessed to exposing himself to a 35-year-old woman on July 8.

The victim told detectives that she was in the alley behind her residence on Tropicana Boulevard when she noticed an older model red passenger car with a black hood. The car slowed down and the driver was staring at her. She looked inside the car and noticed the man was fondling his genitals.

The victim was scared and went back inside her residence. She saw the car circling her residence. She obtained the license plate number and gave it to deputies.The license plate was determined to belong to Campos, who owns a 2002 red Hyundai with a black hood, according to detectives.

At the time, detectives attempted to identify Campos as a suspect through a photo lineup, but the victim declined to cooperate.

Three more cases involving a man in a red car were received in September.

Two incidents were reported Sept. 8:

A 13-year-old girl told deputies she was walking north on Tropicana Boulevard near 32nd Avenue Southwest around 8:30 a.m. when a man she did not know pulled up beside her and offered her a ride. The girl shook her head “no” and kept walking.

An 18-year-old woman told deputies she was walking along 23rd Avenue Southwest near 49th Terrace Southwest around 1:30 p.m. when a man driving an older model red passenger car drove up next to her and stated they should have sex. The man was fondling his genitals.

On Sept. 11, a teenager reported that a man in a red car approached her and offered her a ride in May in Golden Gate. She did not file a police report at the time of the incident but decided to do so after hearing news reports of similar incidents.

On Tuesday, Campos met with investigators and confessed to exposing himself to the victim in the July 8 incident, according to detectives.

Detectives said he also confessed to being the person who asked the teen girls to get into his vehicle in September and May, but did not confess to fondling his genitals in the Sept. 8 incident.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Campos’ arrest in connection with the July 8 incident and he was taken into custody Friday.

He was being booked into the Collier County jail late Friday afternoon.

Original news release:
Deputies: Man In Red Car Approached Teens In Golden Gate
Collier County Sheriff's Office
Posted Date: 9/9/2015 3:15 PM

Detectives are investigating two separate incidents in which teenage girls say they were approached by a man in a red car in Golden Gate on Tuesday.

The suspect exposed his genitals in one of the incidents.

A 13-year-old girl told deputies she was walking north on Tropicana Boulevard near 32nd Avenue Southwest around 8:30 a.m. when a man she did not know pulled up beside her and offered her a ride. The girl shook her head “no” and kept walking.

The man drove off and then circled back around and pulled up next to her. The man motioned for her to get into the passenger seat and verbally offered her a ride. The girl kept walking and the man drove off.

Deputies said the man was described as Hispanic, in his 30s and clean shaven. The man spoke to the girl in Spanish and had an accent. He was driving an older model red passenger car.

An 18-year-old woman told deputies she was walking along 23rd Avenue Southwest near 49th Terrace Southwest around 1:30 p.m. when a man driving an older model red passenger car drove up next to her and stated they should have sex.

The woman continued walking. The man turned around and drove by slowly and asked the woman in Spanish to get in the car so they could have sex.

The woman looked into the car and saw that the man was fondling his genitals.

The man begged her again to come into his vehicle and she kept walking.

Deputies said the man was described as Hispanic and in his 30s. He was wearing a gray striped shirt and eyeglasses.

Detectives are also working to determine whether the two incidents are related to an incident in July in Golden Gate in which a man in a red car exposed himself to a woman.

The 35-year-old woman told deputies that she was in the alley behind her residence on Tropicana Boulevard around 4:50 p.m. on July 8 when she noticed an older model red passenger car.

The car slowed down and she noticed the driver was staring at her. She looked inside the car and noticed the man was fondling his genitals.

The woman was scared and went back inside her residence. She saw the car circling her residence.

The woman told deputies the man was Hispanic.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239.252-9300, or if you want to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

Free Child Car Seat Checkup Monday

  

Not sure if you’ve properly installed your child’s car seat? Have your car seat checked or fitted for free by a Collier County Sheriff’s Office child passenger safety technician Monday, Oct. 12.

CCSO will participate in a child car seat safety inspection event in cooperation with Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, the Florida Department of Health Healthy Communities Coalition, and SafeKids Lee/Collier counties from 9 a.m. to noon at the Collier County Health Department, 3339 U.S. 41 E., Bldg H, in the Collier County government complex in East Naples.

A certified CCSO car seat technician at the event will work with you to make sure your child is in the right seat and fitted properly, and that the seat is correctly installed in your vehicle.

Bilingual fitting technicians will be available.

Florida law requires parents to use a child restraint system. If children are not properly restrained while traveling in a vehicle, they could easily be injured in a collision or any other emergency situation.

A new Florida law went into effect Jan. 1, requiring a child to remain in a child restraint device, car seat or booster seat until their 6th birthday. Formerly only children through age 3 had to be in child restraints. The statute does provide exceptions.

http://flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2014/316.613

http://www.flhsmv.gov/safetytips/CPS.htm

Call 239.565.8371 for more information.

Celebrate Safe Communities With CCSO

For the third year in a row, deputies will join forces with residents across Collier County for a weeklong celebration in October to promote community safety.

Celebrating Safe Communities is designed to heighten crime prevention and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

Starting Monday, Oct. 12, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will celebrate the fight against crime by hosting family friendly events and activities that bring neighborhoods, communities, businesses and law enforcement together.

Festivities will include cookouts, bounce houses, face painting, wall climbing, and refreshments. Informational kiosks and demonstrations by representatives from area emergency services and county government agencies will also be featured.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

Here’s a look at the CCSO Celebrating Safe Communities events to be held around Collier County:

EVERGLADES CITY

Monday, Oct. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McLeod Park on Hibiscus Street West. This event will feature the CCSO D.A.R.E. car, rock-climbing wall, a bounce house and refreshments.

Deputies will be joined by representatives from the Ochopee Fire Department, U.S. National Park Service, Collier County Emergency Management, Collier County Emergency Medical Services, Florida Highway Patrol, Collier County Domestic Animal Services, Police Athletic League, Collier County Code Enforcement, Drug Free Collier, Copeland Baptist Church, Everglades Museum, and the Collier County Health Department.     

NORTH NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at THELOCKUP Self Storage parking lot, 1025 Piper Blvd. Festivities will include a demonstrations by the CCSO K-9 Unit and motorcycle deputies. The North Naples Fire Department will also perform a demonstration. The CCSO Crime Prevention Unit will offer safety information. The CCSO D.A.R.E.  car will be on display and the Mobile Crime Scene Lab will be open to tour.

There will also be a bounce house, rock-climbing wall, dunk tank, animals, and popcorn and food from area restaurants.

EAST NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 U.S. 41 E. Deputies will be joined by representatives from Drug Free Collier,  Florida Highway Patrol, Greater Naples Fire Department, Bikes For Tykes, and Collier County Emergency Management.

Kids can meet Smokey Bear and check out a swamp buggy. Attendees can view an alligator up close, courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

GOLDEN GATE

Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway. Explore the Golden Gate Fire Department’s fire safety house and fire truck. Experience the outdoors with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s alligator and airboat display.

Representatives from Drug Free Collier, Collier County Code Enforcement, Youth Haven, Shelter For Abused Women & Children, and the Kowiachobee Animal Preserve will be at the event with informational booths.

The event will also feature food, a dunk tank, face painting, CCSO rock wall, and health screenings.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES

Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Florida Forest Service, 710 Randall Blvd. Kids can jump around in the bounce house, climb the CCSO rock wall, learn about fire safety and climb the fire watch tower. Representatives of the Naples Pathways Coalition will provide bicycle tune-ups and bike safety education.

Participants can also meet with members of the Golden Gate Civic Association and the North Collier Fire Department, while enjoying food and refreshments.

AVE MARIA

Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd., Ave Maria. Meet McGruff the Crime Dog and members of CCSO, along with representatives from Collier County Code Enforcement, Collier County Utilities, Immokalee Fire Department, and Collier County Health Department.

Deputies will host a bicycle safety course and hand out bike helmets and offer bike and pedestrian safety helmet. Bike helmets will be handed out to children in need. Food and refreshments will be provided.      

    

CCSO Names October “Do The Right Thing” Winners

Eight Collier County students were recently recognized for good deeds ranging from calling 911 to save their infant  sister to reporting a fire.

The students will be recognized at the first “Do The Right Thing” award ceremony for the 2015-2016 school year at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology on Monday, October 5, 2015 at 3 p.m.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office adopted the "Do the Right Thing" program in January 1988, and has honored hundreds of children for acts that reinforce good behavior, positive acts and outstanding accomplishments in the community.

The following students have been recognized for October:

Sabine Rivera, Second Grade, Seacrest Country Day School

Sabine could never find enough books to read so she began to borrow them from friends, the school, the library and family members. Sabine’s love of reading led her to ask her mother, a fifth-grade teacher at Pinecrest Elementary in Immokalee, what she could do to help students learn to love reading as well. Sabine, on her own, decided it would be a great if she could collect books and pass them out for free to the students at Pinecrest. Sabine went to her church, community organizations, classmates at Seacrest and friends to collect donations of books. Sabine was eventually able to collect and distribute 1,600 books.

Ryan Garraty and James Asbell, Fifth Grade, Tommie Barfield Elementary School

A stranger confronted both Ryan and James and offered them candy that was in his car. The boys took off running and told their parents. The boys told the media they knew what to do, because they completed the “Jr. Deputy” class in fourth grade.

Yves Becimus, Third Grade, Lake Trafford Elementary

Yves called 911 when his 21-month-old sister was having a severe allergic reaction and difficulty breathing after being stung by a bee. During the call, Yves was able to calmly and accurately provide critical information to the first responders. He was able to watch his sister and give the deputies updates while his sister was crying in the background.

Bradley Desravines, Twelfth Grade, Golden Gate High School

Bradley found a gold bracelet on the  floor at school. Not knowing who it belonged to, Bradley did the right thing and immediately handed the jewelry over to the school administrators.

Brendon Drugan and Daniel Rendon, Eleventh Grade, Gulf Coast High School

Brendon and Daniel found a clear zip-lock bag containing approximately $100. They brought the money to the assistant principal, who discovered that the money belonged to Collier County Public Schools and had been accidentally dropped by a cafeteria worker.

Hannah Ryan, Sixth Grade, Mason Classical Academy

Hannah noticed smoke coming for the neighbor’s apartment. Hannah, being alert and knowing what was going on around her, immediately took action. She prevented damage to the apartment building, which would have made numerous families homeless and prevented the loss of property and personal items.

Heater Theft Lands Estates Man In Hot Water

A Golden Gate Estates man was arrested Wednesday after deputies say he stole water heaters and other plumbing supplies from his former employer and then sold them to an undercover officer.

Jorge Ramirez, 28, 5845 Everglades Blvd. N., faces felony charges of dealing in stolen property and grand theft.

According to arrest reports, Ramirez quit working for South Florida Plumbing, 299 Airport-Pulling Road N., in July. Shortly after Ramirez’s departure company officials learned that Ramirez had been stealing material, faucets and fixtures, but they had no proof linking him to the thefts.

On Sept. 10, an undercover deputy negotiated with Ramirez to purchase two water heaters and two faucets. Later that evening the deputy met with Ramirez at his residence and paid $600 cash for two water heaters that were new in boxes and two faucets that appeared used and not in boxes.

Company officials confirmed that the water heaters were stolen and provided invoices with serial numbers that matched the serial numbers on the items purchased by the undercover deputy.    

Celebrate Safe Communities With CCSO

For the third year in a row, deputies will join forces with residents across Collier County for a weeklong celebration in October to promote community safety.

Celebrating Safe Communities is designed to heighten crime prevention and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

Starting Monday, Oct. 12, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will celebrate the fight against crime by hosting family friendly events and activities that bring neighborhoods, communities, businesses and law enforcement together.

Festivities will include cookouts, bounce houses, face painting, wall climbing, and refreshments. Informational kiosks and demonstrations by representatives from area emergency services and county government agencies will also be featured.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

Here’s a look at the CCSO Celebrating Safe Communities events to be held around Collier County:

EVERGLADES CITY

Monday, Oct. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McLeod Park on Hibiscus Street West. This event will feature the CCSO D.A.R.E. car, rock-climbing wall, a bounce house and refreshments.

Deputies will be joined by representatives from the Ochopee Fire Department, U.S. National Park Service, Collier County Emergency Management, Collier County Emergency Medical Services, Florida Highway Patrol, Collier County Domestic Animal Services, Police Athletic League, Collier County Code Enforcement, Drug Free Collier, Copeland Baptist Church, Everglades Museum, and the Collier County Health Department.    

NORTH NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at THELOCKUP Self Storage parking lot, 1025 Piper Blvd. Festivities will include a demonstrations by the CCSO K-9 Unit and motorcycle deputies. The North Naples Fire Department will also perform a demonstration. The CCSO Crime Prevention Unit will offer safety information. The CCSO D.A.R.E.  car will be on display and the Mobile Crime Scene Lab will be open to tour.

There will also be a bounce house, rock-climbing wall, dunk tank, animals, and popcorn and food from area restaurants.

EAST NAPLES

Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 U.S. 41 E. Deputies will be joined by representatives from Drug Free Collier,  Florida Highway Patrol, Greater Naples Fire Department, Bikes For Tykes, and Collier County Emergency Management.

Kids can meet Smokey Bear and check out a swamp buggy. Attendees can view an alligator up close, courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

GOLDEN GATE

Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway. Explore the Golden Gate Fire Department’s fire safety house and fire truck. Experience the outdoors with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s alligator and airboat display.

Representatives from Drug Free Collier, Collier County Code Enforcement, Youth Haven, Shelter For Abused Women & Children, and the Kowiachobee Animal Preserve will be at the event with informational booths.

The event will also feature food, a dunk tank, face painting, CCSO rock wall, and health screenings.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES

Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Florida Forest Service, 710 Randall Blvd. Kids can jump around in the bounce house, climb the CCSO rock wall, learn about fire safety and climb the fire watch tower. Representatives of the Naples Pathways Coalition will provide bicycle tune-ups and bike safety education.

Participants can also meet with members of the Golden Gate Civic Association and the North Collier Fire Department, while enjoying food and refreshments.

AVE MARIA

Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd., Ave Maria. Meet McGruff the Crime Dog and members of CCSO, along with representatives from Collier County Code Enforcement, Collier County Utilities, Immokalee Fire Department, and Collier County Health Department.

Deputies will host a bicycle safety course and hand out bike helmets and offer bike and pedestrian safety helmet. Bike helmets will be handed out to children in need. Food and refreshments will be provided.