Deputies Release Surveillance Image Of Armed Robbery Suspect

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery at a convenience store in East Naples on Thursday night.

Deputies responded to the 7-Eleven store at 1183 Airport-Pulling Road S. near Estey Avenue around 10:55 p.m. for an armed robbery.   The robber entered the store and approached an employee. The robber had his right hand in a paper bag, which he placed against the employee’s head. He then demanded money.

The employee told detectives he did not see a gun but stated he felt something hard against his head.

The robber removed an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and left the store.

No injuries were reported.

Deputies, assisted by K-9 and Aviation units, searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

Detectives have released a store surveillance photo of the suspect.

Detectives said the suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and 190 pounds. He wore a gray sweatshirt with a maroon stripe on the shoulder and possibly “Florida State” across the front. He wore a blue wrap around part of his face and head.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239.252.9300, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.780.TIPS (8477).

Free Child Car Seat Checkup Saturday

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 Saturday, Oct. 1.

CCSO will offer child car seat safety inspections during the NCH Baby Fair 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at NCH North Naples Hospital, Brookdale Center for Health Aging Boardroom, 11190 Health Park Blvd., North Naples. New parents, parents to be and those considering pregnancy are invited to this free event.

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.

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.

 Florida law requires a child to remain in a child restraint device, car seat or booster seat until his or her 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

CCSO Launches "Carpool Cruiser"

There won’t be any singing, but the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is looking to pick up fans with a new video ride-along series debuting Wednesday.

“Carpool Cruiser” will be an occasional series featuring CCSO deputies talking about their jobs while riding around in a sheriff’s cruiser.

Inspired by late-night TV talk show host James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke,” Lt. J.J. Carroll will take to the wheel and interview a different agency member about his or her job. 

Each episode will start with Lt. Carroll picking up a deputy and end with him dropping off the deputy at work. 

The first episode features Cpl. Jerrod Carver of the Agriculture Unit riding shotgun while talking about his job and engaging in lively and upbeat banter with Lt. Carroll. Cpl. Carver discusses everything from his favorite vehicle to use on patrol to his strangest call (It involves a kangaroo).

Click here to watch the first episode of “Carpool Cruiser.”

CCSO, Starbucks Offer Coffee With A Cop

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Starbucks to offer the community Coffee with a Cop.

Set for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Starbucks located 8867 Immokalee Road #101, Golden Gate Estates, the event will provide deputies and members of the community with the opportunity to come together to discuss community issues, build relationships and share some coffee.

Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the agency’s work. Coffee with a Cop also allows for relaxed, one-on-one interaction between deputies and members of the community.

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the country, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.

The program aims to advance the practice of community policing by building relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

CCSO Sergeant Honored By DLC

The David Lawrence Center honored Collier County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Leslie Weidenhammer during the annual Recovery Month awards ceremony Thursday.

The DLC recognized Sgt. Weidenhammer for her involvement as a Crisis Intervention Team Trainer and Coordinator of the Mental Health Unit with the CCSO.

She is also a member of the Collier County Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court Teams. In these capacities she tirelessly and passionately invests her time to support individuals in crisis with a mental illness and/or substance abuse problem who intercept with law enforcement. In addition, she serves as a volunteer board member for National Alliance on Mental Illness were she also works in their youth programs. She is as a steadfast mental health advocate and conveys the message of help, hope and recovery in that she does.

The DLC is a nonprofit mental health and substance abuse treatment facility serving children, adults and families in Collier County. DLC joins other voices of recovery from across the nation in observing the 27th annual national Recovery Month. The event is held in September to help increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance abuse disorder. It also helps to promote the message that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective and people recover.

Thursday’s ceremony at the New Hope Community Center, 7676 Davis Blvd., East Naples, recognized individuals and organizations in Collier County for their outstanding contributions to support those in recovery.

Polly Whiting, retired EMS Chief Walter Kopka, The David Lawrence Center Young Executives group and Terry Cox were also honored at the ceremony.

Man Found In Canal Identified

A body recovered from a canal in Golden Gate by deputies Monday afternoon has been identified as Carlos Rojas, 22.

A passer-by discovered a body in the canal near the intersection of 39^th Street Southwest and 13^th Avenue Southwest shortly after 3 p.m. Monday and contacted the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. The CCSO dive team responded and removed the body.

Detectives used fingerprints to identify Rojas of 5570 16^th Place S.W. in Golden Gate.

Detectives said his death does not appear to be suspicious at this time.

Rojas’ live-in girlfriend reported him missing around 1 a.m. Monday. She told CCSO detectives that Rojas had left their home around 5:30 p.m. Saturday to get a haircut and never returned.

She said she went looking for him and found him with friends at Bamboo Garden, 12215 Collier Blvd., Golden Gate, about 10:30 p.m. She said she returned home without Rojas, expecting he would return home later, but he never did. Rojas did not have a vehicle or bicycle and walked anywhere he needed to go.

Next CCSO CommUNITY Gallery To Host Art Of Adorable Tykes

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with The Learning Center Preschool at East Naples United Methodist Church to raise awareness of its VPK program for preschoolers aged 2-4 years old.

CCSO will host a public reception for the 21st installment of the CommUNITY Gallery Thursday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The gallery is located within the administrative offices on the second floor of CCSO headquarters, 3319 U.S. 41 E., East Naples.

The CommUNITY Gallery will feature 21 images created by preschoolers currently attending the center.

The Learning Center has been committed to the children and families living and working in Naples for 40 years. There are five classrooms enabling children to explore and enjoy each day. Each classroom includes learning centers for discovery in science, math, writing, manipulatives, computer, creative arts and more.

The exhibit will be on display to the public through Dec. 30, 2016.

Click here for more information about The Learning Center at ENUMC. 

The CCSO Community Gallery welcomes any local public service organizations interested in setting up a future exhibit.

For more information about the gallery or how an organization can participate, contact CCSO Media Relations Specialist Kristine Gill at 239.252.0604 or Kristine.Gill@colliersheriff.org.