Rays moving spring camp due to damage caused by hurricane
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their spring base for 2023 due to extensive damage to team training facilities caused by Hurricane Ian. The team and Charlotte County released a joint statement Thursday, saying damage to Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte can’t be repaired in time to host games this winter. “Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training,” the statement said. “We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. “The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.”___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comFlorida sheriff’s deputy killed by passing vehicle during traffic stop; woman arrested
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A passing vehicle struck and killed a Florida sheriff’s deputy who was conducting a traffic stop in Charlotte County, authorities said. Here are the latest updates:Massachusetts woman arrested on DUI manslaughter chargeUpdate 6:51 a.m. EST Nov. 23: A Massachusetts woman is facing a DUI manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a Florida sheriff’s deputy, multiple news outlets are reporting. The deputy later died at a Punta Gorda hospital, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputy struck, killed by passing vehicle during I-75 traffic stopOriginal report: A passing vehicle struck and killed a Florida sheriff’s deputy who was conducting a traffic stop in Charlotte County, authorities said. According to WBBH and WFTX, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred Tuesday evening on Interstate 75.
wftv.comGeorgia inmate serving life sentence for murder captured in Florida after 3rd escape attempt – WFTV
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — An inmate serving a life sentence for murder in Georgia escaped for the third time and was captured last week in Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol said, according to WSB-TV, that Moret was found walking down the Interstate 75 in Charlotte County, Florida, Saturday morning. According to court records obtained by WSB-TV, Moret was convicted of armed robbery in DeKalb County in 1975. According to the Georgia Department of Corrections records obtained by WSB-TV, Moret also has two escape convictions from 1976 and 1985. The Charlotte County, Florida Sheriff’s Office said Moret is currently in their custody as he waits to be extradited back to Georgia, according to WSB-TV.
wftv.comFlagler County deputies return after sent to help Hurricane Ian survivors
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team was sent to Charlotte County in southwest Florida in response to Hurricane Ian. They finally arrived back home, FSCO announced. “It was our honor to support our brothers and sisters at the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and serve their community in their time of need,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “I know they will do the same for us if a hurricane devastates Flagler County.”FSCO sent two teams of ERTs, 16 deputies total, over the past 20 days. Over 300 deputy sheriffs from around Florida were deployed to the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian.
wftv.comOfficials: 14-year-old boy allegedly stabbed a Florida deputy 6 times
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A 14-year-old boy allegedly stabbed a deputy in Florida Thursday morning six times, officials say. During a stop, the boy told the deputy that he was fishing in the area but he had no equipment, according to CCSO. The boy fought with the deputy who attempted to call for backup but the boy allegedly stabbed him behind the ear. According to WINK, the deputy was stabbed a total of six times - three times in the head, a defensive wound to the arm, and two times around his ear. The boy allegedly told deputies he was planning to break into a closed restaurant prior to the attack, according to CCSO.
wftv.comThe last moments of Hurricane Ian's victims, told in grim details by Florida medical examiners
A 96-year-old Charlotte County man found trapped under a car in high water is the oldest victim of Hurricane Ian’s deadly course through Southwest Florida, whose wrath is now revealed in a grim spreadsheet compiled by the state’s medical examiners’ commission.
news.yahoo.comMissing child found inside Florida teacher’s home
Missing child found inside Florida teacher’s home Kelly Simpson was charged with interference with custody of a minor. (Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators searching for a missing teenager in Florida located him inside a home belonging to a teacher. >> Read more trending newsThe teenager, who was not identified, had been reported missing by his parents on Aug. 12, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Deputies said in the news release that Simpson was placed under arrest for knowingly concealing the teenager despite knowing he had been reported missing. In a statement to WINK, the district said: “Charlotte County Public Schools takes an incident such as this very seriously.
wftv.comGov. DeSantis announces $1.1M raised for tornado victims in Lee, Charlotte counties
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on claims he made last month the Biden administration withheld funding for tornado victims in Lee and Charlotte counties because of “politics” and announced $1.1 million was raised for repairs, temporary housing and other forms of relief.
Drunk Florida driver crashes into ‘drive sober or get pulled over’ sign, deputies say
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida man who was driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit didn’t realize he crashed into a “drive sober or get pulled over” sign that was set up near the road, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said Bounty Cheramy was driving on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte around 12:30 a.m. Aug. 30 when he struck the sign board trailer with his blue Mazda. When questioned, Cheramy said he was talking on the phone with a friend when he hit something but he didn’t know what he hit or how, records show. Cheramy admitted that he had some kind of alcoholic drink that his friend made him as the two were studying, according to the affidavit. After a failed field sobriety test, a breath test was conducted that showed Cheramy’s blood alcohol level was at .166 and .161, records show.
10-foot alligator attacks Florida teen walking near pond
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida teen is recovering after officials said he was attacked by a 10-foot alligator. [RELATED: Florida woman discovers alligators fighting at her home]The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the alligator bit the 14-year-old while he was walking near a pond. The alligator will be trapped and relocated to a nearby alligator farm. Wildlife officials reminded Floridians that as temperatures go up, alligators become more visible. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water,” officials said.
Another female Florida panther has crossed the Caloosahatchee River, a huge milestone
click to enlarge Photo courtesy FWCToday the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that the third female panther in almost fifty years was recently spotted north of the Caloosahatchee River in Charlotte County, signally a major milestone for the endangered species.Biologists with the FWC released images from a trail camera showing an adult female Florida panther north of the Caloosahatchee River. Back in 2015, the FWC celebrated the first image of a nursing female panther north of the waterway, signaling a giant step towards the species expanding to new areas to roam and, well, make more babies. While the wide-ranging cats need ample space, especially males, female panthers have been less likely to cross the river and join the dating pool.This is good news for Florida panther conservation, said Kipp Frohlich, deputy director for the FWCs Division of Habitat and Species Conservation in a statement from 2015. Until now, we only had evidence of panthers breeding south of the Caloosahatchee. These pictures of a female with kittens indicate there are now panthers breeding north of the river.Of course, theres a lot that stands in the way of a new batch of panther kittens.
orlandoweekly.comFlorida man charged with killing teen who protected younger sister
Police found the body of Khyler Edman, 15, while searching homes in a neighborhood in Port Charlotte, Florida. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - A Florida man accused of killing a 15-year-old boy during a home invasion has been charged with second-degree murder and burglary. Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said detectives spent five weeks investigating the case and now have enough evidence to charge Ryan Cole, 27. Cole is accused of killing Khyler Edman on Sept. 26. Prummell said Cole fatally stabbed Khyler while the teenager was trying to protect his younger sister during the invasion of their home.