NBC2 Crime Investigator Blog

The Crash Corridor

2007-02-23T09:17:00.000-05:00

Wednesday night we showed you where almost half of the accidents on our interstate are happening. We also showed you that this area is where the Florida Highway Patrol seldom works. Tonight we are going further, showing you where in that crash corridor (from Naples to North Fort Myers) you are most likely to crash. It's information that could save your life. It's information the Florida Highway patrol is taking a closer look at and making changes.

The changes troopers are making are temporary... but it is my hope that down the road they will make them more permanent.

When we asked Major David McCarter why they are not working the 50 miles between Naples and Fort Myers aggressively he said "because that area is congested", and that "they are busy answering calls." His office did provide documentation that shows troopers are busy. I don't argue that troopers are not doing their job. My personal opinion is they do an excellent job.

However, they are the ones tasked with enforcement on the interstate... so they can't give an excuse for ignoring a 50 mile stretch of interstate. Simply put, if they are not there... who is? I have spoken with numorous people who have said they rarely, if ever, see a trooper between Fort Myers and Naples. The drivers have taken notice... and are driving accordingly.

Some could argue there are so many cars on the interstate that enforcement would be ineffective.

But this operation done on the interstate proves otherwise. In a single day troopers saturated the entire interstate. Calls to FHP for aggressive/reckless drivers dropped 66%. Doesn't that sound nice?

It's clear FHP needs more troopers/money to adequetely cover Southwest Florida, especially the interstate. As it stands right now... they have become more of a reactive agency then a proactive one. If you need a reason for that to change... watch tonight at six.

Closing the Enforcement Gap

2007-02-21T09:26:00.000-05:00

Tonight's investigation addresses Southwest Florida's busiest road... and the agency tasked with enforcement on it. When you drive Interstate 75 in Southwest Florida, how often do you see a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper? The answers among drivers will likely vary. But where you see troopers (or don't see them) will not vary.

Our story is the culmination of a six month investigation that we just happen to stumble upon this Summer. It began as a simple inquiry into tickets written by Florida Highway patrol troopers. We wanted to know where they we're writing tickets for accidents on the interstate. The idea is we could map out where these accident tickets where being written and we could show you where the accident prone areas are.

As we combed over the tickets (roughly a few thousand) trends started emerging. We found specific mile markers where troopers wrote dozens of tickets for crashes. We also found extremes: mile markers where trooper hardly wrote tickets. And mile markers where trooper's hands we're likely cramping as they signed off on thousands of citations. (that's a joke)

When mapped out it became clear there are areas that are crash corridors... areas where you're most likely to get a ticket... and areas where you seldom will see a trooper. But we didn't have the complete picture. We had just a 10 week snapshot of the interstate in Lee County. So we expanded our investigation, analyzing 6 months of tickets written in Collier, Lee, and Charlotte county. That works out to a little over 20,000 interstate tickets... all counted and tabulated by hand.

The end result: We have the clearest picture a reporter has ever had on enforcement and crashes on the interstate in Southwest Florida. It's also the clearest picture FHP has had on where they are spending their time... and they are making changes.

As a reporter and a resident of Southwest Florida I know how overwhelmed our Interstate is. It's my hope this investigation will help FHP and perhaps other local agencies in curbing the crash corridors that have developed.

How safe are our schools?

2007-02-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

Decades ago the question of school safety was an afterthought in Florida. Our schools were built to be open, friendly, inviting places to learn. That all changed when Columbine and host of other highly publicized school shootings took place.

In recent years our schools have undergone security scrutiny. Deputies have been assigned to patrol schools and develop relationships with students. The hope is these relationships will catch school violence before it erupts. Legislators passed the Jessica Lunsford Act to force schools to document all visitors... ensuring no sexual predator/offender makes it on campus. Many schools have also enacted locked door systems, where you can only access the school through one door - the front door.

So is it all working? If you walked on campus today, a complete stranger, would someone stop you? Would the school check your ID to see if you're a sexual offender? These are the questions we asked of Collier, Lee and Charlotte county school districts. Tonight at six we will show you what our team of investigators found when we tested all three districts. Some will do great. Some will do poorly. And all three districts will take home an important lesson in basic school security.

Scraping the Bottom?

2007-02-13T17:27:00.000-05:00

I know this is a bit off topic, especially for this blog, but tonight's story affects us all in one way or another. Tonight we are going in depth about our real estate market.

When I first arrived in Southwest Florida (2002) our market was hot! Almost everywhere I turned we were reporting about growth, condos rising downtown, middle of nowhere lots in Lehigh tripling value, and homes in Cape Coral increasing by tens of thousand of dollars a month. We had to know this couldn't go on forever... and yet I even bought into it!

Today the market is the opposite. There is record inventory and in many places you couldn't sell your home if you wanted. Instead of increasing by tens of thousands, home values are dropping each month. Realtors will tell you this price correction was coming... that we're paying for our inflated mistakes of the past.

Some people have said "there are no buyers." That's not entirely true. What has happened is the investors have left residential real estate and moved onto commercial real estate (which is extremely hot right now). Homes are still selling in Southwest Florida... at a 2002 pace. The problem is all these investors (myself included) jumped on the real estate gravy train... we created an unrealistic buildup on inventory. Unloading this record inventory is going to take awhile to do.

Developers understand this and are slowing down their residential construction to do their part. After all, the longer it takes to unload the homes currently on the market... the more the price of a home in Southwest Florida is going to drop. The lower the price of a home, the lower the profit for the builder/seller.

So when will it turn around? When will we be "scraping the bottom" of the market? There are mixed answers to this. One expert estimated we have about two years of inventory built up right now. Meaning if we didn't build any more houses and no one else decided to sell their home, it would take two years to unload all this inventory. So two years. But wait, then there are economists saying the our economy is strong and everything is in place right now for a buying splurge. Economist believe that buyers are waiting/holding off for some signal that the bottom has arrived.

During our investigation I received plenty of advice... here's what I took away:

If you're an end user (a buyer who plans to live in a home) you can't lose right now. You should consider this purchase a commitment to live in a home for 5-10 years. You're home will appreciate... you will make money.

If you're not an end user, stay out. The days of buying and flipping in 30 days are gone. (unless you're going to flip foreclosures... but even that isn't guaranteed)

If you're a seller who's living in their home and you don't need to move... get your house off the market. Selling on a declining market is just plain dumb. Unless you absolutely need out, you should wait this decline out. People are still moving to Florida, the economy is strong... and this market will change, again. Tomorrow may be worse... but can you really say next year will be?

Broker Denny Grimes said it best: Think of the bottom of the market as a window of time... not a point. If you wait for the bottom you will miss it... much like those investors who waited a day too late to unload their property.

A Sexual Threat?

2007-02-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

On any given day of the week you can turn the TV on and hear something about a sexual offender/predator on the news. In the last decade.. we've created sex offender registries, laws to keep offenders out of neighborhoods, moved bus stops, and beefed up our sex offender units in law enforcement. Society and the media has become obsessed with the sexual offender because they threaten our most precious possession... our children.

But is the threat real? Are the 900 registered sexual offenders living in Southwest Florida really preying on our children? For our story tonight we looked at the hundreds of sexual offenses that happened in 2006. In Lee and Charlotte county you could count on one hand those that involved a registered sexual offender. Collier didn't have the numbers available. We came to learn from the detectives who deal with the registry... the sexual offender is one of the last people to re-offend. Yes, part of this has to do with the fact law enforcement is keeping tabs on offenders... keeping them from preying on new/old victims.

Detectives pointed out a number of reasons sex offenders don't re-offend. The biggest reason: a lot of people on this registry shouldn't be there. There are cases where offenders are now married to their victim, even had children with them... yet that person will be listed on the registry for the next 25 years. Some cases involve a high school senior who had sex with a sophomore. That may have been no big deal when you were in school but the law takes a hard line now when 17 and 15 year olds have sex. I'm not condoning this kind of activity... but does that 17 year old really need to be on the registry for the next 30 years? Do we really need to warn our children about this person and treat them like a sexual deviant?

I realize and understand why the sexual offender gets little sympathy from society. But you have to wonder how many are out there being victimized by this registry. In speaking with a number of people on the list... we learned that being a registered offender makes it hard to find a job, a place to live, a break. Lets face it, that is exactly what society intended this list to do. We don't want a monster that preys on little boys and girls living next door to us or delivering our pizza. However for the aforementioned offenders who shouldn't necessarily be on this list... what is happening to them? They can't get good paying jobs. They can't live in a "nice" community. They can't move up or be a "pillar" of society. And for many of them... they end up becoming a victim of the registry... turning to a life of short lived crime. I say short lived because we have devoted our sex offender detectives to track them... and it's just a matter of time before they are caught screwing up. We of course applaud law enforcement for doing this job... because we're getting the "perverts" off the street.

If you're thinking about getting into law enforcement, specifically sex crimes, I would say you have job security. The list of sexual offenders is growing everyday. We continue to funnel any and all sex crimes into the registry. While other states have passed laws to protect the consenting teenagers from becoming a victim of this list... Florida has yet to take this step. You won't find a politician willing to propose such a change in the registry because it would be political suicide. As I said earlier... no one has sympathy for the sexual offender.

Of the hundreds of sex cases our police and sheriff's department are handling... roughly 99% involve new "offenders". That means the greatest threat to our children, ironically, are those not listed on the sex offender/predator website. That's scary.

I agree we must do our best to protect our children. That means the registry should include those who are a real threat to society... not everyone who committed a sex crime. How do you decide who's a real threat though?

Have you ever wondered why we don't have a public registry for convicted murderers? Take a look at this study on recidivism done by the State of Washington. I would be curious to see this study done in Florida.

http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/06-03-1201.pdf
http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/05-12-1202.pdf

The Good, the Bad, and the Costly

2007-01-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

I thought we would spend a few minutes today on the people I spend a lot of time dealing with on a daily basis: The Public Information Officer or PIO.

The PIO is the connection between government or private agency and the general public. They are the point person for inquiries, press releases, and many times interviews.

On the whole the PIO's in Southwest Florida do a great job. They are knowledgeable, resourceful, and prompt. It is a often a stressful job, especially if your agency deals with the media. Reporters are very demanding, especially when they are on deadline. Reporters expect the PIO to drop what they are doing to handle their request. When that doesn't happen... some reporters get nasty... some PIO's return the attitude (or in some cases remember that nastiness for future requests.)

I understand why requests are many times not as timely as the media would like it. We live in a "need to know now" society more than ever. News websites are becoming increasing competitive. If you don't believe me, ask the editors at the local papers. I tend to think the PIO's labeled by the media as "bad" are the overwhelmed. The "bad" get dozens of inquiries a day from the media, the public, and also must juggle a laundry list of administrative duties. It boggles my mind that an agency can grow by dozens of employees, if not hundreds, yet not expand their public information sector.

Public information officers are paid for by you and me... the taxpayers. But it's also a very profitable business. Under Florida law they can charge you for things like copies, tapes, and cds. I agree that cost should be passed along to the end user. However the law allows them to charge you anywhere from $ .15 a page to $1.00 a page... and they do. For example if you need to pull a case or policy that's 50 pages ($50), you just purchased the agency two cases of paper or toner for the week. See where the profit comes into play?

Public information officers can also charge you for their time. Under Florida law should your request take them over 15 minutes, you can now be billed their hourly rate. Even if the PIO doesn't answer your question, they can charge you the time (over 15min) it took to find that out. This law makes sense because it keeps the public for inundating the PIO with time consuming requests. However in my opinion the law and these charges are kind of an oxymoron. The job title is public information officer. It's paid for by the public. And yet... we have to pay more because I asked a time consuming question?

Here is an idea: Instead of charging people for a PIO's time... why don't we take some of the monies from these inflated copy charges to pay for another PIO? That would take away from the overwhelmed, improve communication, and improve efficiency.

I wonder where the monies from all these copy/time charges are going right now?

Can the State Attorney's Office save the Cape?

2007-01-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

Friday Cape Coral Mayor suggested Mickey Rosado's forfeiture hearing being delayed until further notice. Of course it was on the condition that Rosado not participate in council meetings until he's been cleared by the State Attorney's Office.

Is the mayor reading this blog? Perhaps the City Attorney? Actually I'm sure neither of them needed to hear my opinion on the Rosado case to realize where they are headed... court. As I said before if Rosado elects to continue with this forfeiture hearing... he will have one heck of an appeals case.

What Cape Coral council needs... is praying for... is that the State Attorney's office comes down with a decision on whether or not to charge Rosado with a crime before February's hearing. It would save the Cape money, time, and possibly some court dates. (oh and save me some blog space)

I bet it happens soon.

Guantanamo of the Cape?

2006-12-22T15:33:00.000-05:00

I sat through a fascinating two hours today in Cape Coral. The roasting of Councilman Mickey Rosado and the beginnings of legal war that I expect to last months if not years.

Rosado is underfire for "allegedly" abusing his powers. A third party investigation found he asked various city employees to stop or push through various projects. According to the city charter, only the city manager is allowed to do that. (Many assume Rosado had something to gain from the impacted projects)

A forfeiture hearing is set for February 6th in which his fellow council members could give him the boot. I will be extremely surprised though if it is actually held that day. I suspect you'll see it weeks if not a month later because the defense will need time to prepare.

You're likely as unfamiliar with forfeiture hearings as I am. It's never been done in Cape Coral from my understanding. In essence the Council serves as a prosecutor asking witnesses various questions. They can subpoena witnesses as well. In this case, council will also be listed a witness. And when all is said and done... Say 2-4 days of testimony later... Council will confer and rule (vote) to keep or kick Rosado out of office.

I title my post today "Guantanamo of the Cape"... Because if anyone honestly thinks Rosado is going to get a fair shake... I've got some land to sell you. I agree comparing Rosado... To "enemy combatants" housed in Cuba is a stretch. However Rosado may as well be there because what's about to happen is a show for the public, and nothing more.

The Rosado investigation started like any other investigation... Someone had a motive. Someone ON THE COUNCIL, WITH A MOTIVE, leaked documents. Honestly speaking I don't know what that motive is. We can assume though that the end result they wanted was to get rid of Rosado. Unfortunately for them this effort has become a bit messy and while they may ultimately be successful, it will undoubtedly be expensive and a learning experience.

So I ask you this... If you leaked documents to get your co-worker fired and then were asked to be impartial at a hearing to fire them... Could you really be impartial?

I don't make this argument because I like or dislike Rosado or any other council member. I am not arguing whether Rosado is guilty or not. I make this argument because the "democratic process" set for February 6th is not what Cape Coral's founding fathers envisioned.

And If you think I'm exaggerating... Wait till the appeals are filed in court.

Can someone tell me why there isn't a recall?

True or False: Depends which Parent you ask

2006-12-19T15:29:00.000-05:00

One thing you may have noticed watching the media coverage on Baby Bryan... Is an inconsistency in the story.

Some reporters tell the story of them being smuggled here in intimate detail... Others say they are here legally. One report they didn't owe money to anyone, the next station reports they owe thousands.

A story that factually varies from reporter to reporter is usually a sign someone got the story wrong. But in the case of Baby Bryan it's evidence of a poorly organized PR campaign, confused with the message they want to send.

I'll explain:
In a recent sit down interview with Bryan's parents I asked what was sure to be a difficult question. "Are you here legally?" Mom shakes her head no. Dad shakes his head yes. The interpreter (supplied by the family) says yes. I question the answer... "Yes? They are here legally?" With mom still shaking her head no... The interpreter than changes her answer... "Oh, no they are not."

My next natural question: "Do you realize you may be deported?" The translator poses my question to the parents in Portuguese. Little does she know I speak some Spanish and can make sense of some of what is being said because the languages are similar. I couldn't translate word for word their answer but I did hear them say to the effect: "I don't care if I am deported I just want to have my baby. Once I have my baby I don't care what happens." So what does the translator say? "They just want their baby back."

The dishonest answers continued on for another 10 minutes... With the parents trying to keep on message... "We just want our baby back."

It makes sense, protect the parents while trying to get the baby back. Unfortunately the different stories have created a sort of distrust of Baby Bryans parents. While they may be dishonest or disguising their answers to protect their residency in the US, it raises my suspicions they are hiding a lot more.

By the way the media is asking the question did these parents sell the baby as payment to get ot the United States. The parents say no. Reverend Israel Suarez, lead spokesperson (or propaganda leader... Depending who you ask) quickly ducked the question by asking a question... "What are you with the FBI? You should work for the FBI."

Baby Bryan Smells

2006-12-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

From the get go, the baby abduction in Fort Myers smelled. It just didn't sound right.

A woman kidnapping a baby in the middle of rush hour? A woman claiming to be looking for Pine Manor... But not from here? If your not from Southwest Florida, you're looking for Fort Myers, Cape Coral... Maybe Bonita Springs. Your definitely not looking for Pine Manor, Dunbar, Iona, Etc. Then this kidnapper disappears, never to be seen again, despite the baby's photo plastered everywhere. Come'on someone had to notice a woman who became a mother overnight. Yet no one has come forward.

The smuggling theory Fort Myers Police has brought forward makes sense... But something is still missing. There is something they are not sharing that confirms they are looking for smugglers. Could it be a ransom request? Could it be a lead from someone the parents confided in? Could it be what was said to the mother before the kidnapper drove off with the baby?

Here's another conspricy theory: Fort Myers police post a $21,000 dollar reward Friday. Later that day they receive an anonymous call from smugglers looking to collect the cash. However why would police then hold a press conference Saturday announcing the motive?

If this is indeed a smuggling operation... I believe we will never see Baby Bryan again. The only chance he has is if the smuggler has a heart. And how many smugglers do you think are in this for charity? Bryan's abduction sends a message of fear to those who haven't paid up. Keeping him will instill that fear for generations to come.

If this is something else, such as a mother who wanted a baby... Then the Dos Santos family has hope. Someone will come forward eventually.

From the Next Governor to Deputy?

2006-11-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

Chuck Quackenbush was once the Insurance Commissioner of California. He was being groomed to become California's next governor or US Senator. But you won't find him anywhere near California anymore. He's 3,000 miles away... Patrolling the streets of Lee County? As a Sheriff's deputy? To say he's come a long way would be an understatement. Quackenbush has taken a $100,000 dollar pay cut to serve the citizens of Lee County. It's a fresh start... but it was just a matter of time before local and California media picked up his story (on why he's here).

Quackenbush resigned as Insurance Commissioner in 2000 amidst scandal and demands for his resignation. It all began with an investigation by the Los Angles Times. The paper alleged Quackenbush took in $100,000 in political contributions from insurance companies. Over time more allegations arose charging Quackenbush persuaded insurance companies to make donations to "his foundations". The donations, in hundreds of thousands of dollars, were in exchange for fines, in the millions, stemming from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Insurance companies that still had not settled claims correctly, years later, faced steep fines. Instead of paying they donated at Quackenbush's direction.

The donations (or as some may see it: settlements) wouldn't have been a big deal until journalists noticed how the money was spent. Some paid for "public service ads" featuring Quackenbush and former LA Laker Shaq. Some money was contributed to his wife's unsuccessful 1998 assembly campaign. Money also was shifted to his children's football camps.
The Insurance Commissioner defended his actions, blaming his former Chief of Staff, the media, and democrat rivals. Quackenbush has established a website which explains what happened through his eyes. He contends he used foundation money to do several political television ads for "promoting earthquake education". He believes the ads were part of his "statutory requirement to promote insurance education". He also says a significant amount of the money went to local charities.

It's clear the PSA's were meant to push Quackenbush's name recognition as he prepared to move up in the political game. Eventually after appearing in numerous papers and television stations he got the recognition... Just not the kind he was looking for. According to his website he retreated to Hawaii for military and political work. In 2002 federal and state prosecutors dropped their investigations into Quackenbush due to a lack of evidence.

One would assume the Sheriff took Quackenbush's record into account before hiring him. The reality is he was not convicted of anything. He could very well be the victim of a few bad political decisions that led to his political hanging.

Regardless the situation is weird.
Who knows, maybe in January we'll see Tom Gallagher (Florida's exiting Insurance Commissioner) patrolling our streets... As a deputy.

We have requested through the Sheriff's office to speak with Quackenbush about his career change. He has not responded to those requests yet.

Questions linger about Deputy involved Shooting

2006-11-21T16:33:00.000-05:00

Sunday night an off duty deputy opened fire as a alleged drunk driver tried to run him over. It's a situation that is very sensitive within the sheriff's office right now... Especially with the loss of Deputy Margena Nunez. Deputy Ali Zariv was trying to take the keys out of Kennith Ready's ignition, when Ready stepped on the gas. The Sheriff's Office says Zariv was being dragged and if he had let go the truck, Ready would have run over him. Ready isn't giving an account because... Well he's dead.

The Sheriff's office seems to think the shooting will be justified... And from what we've seen so far it probably will be. However I still have some intriguing questions, no one can seem to answer.
For instance:
Where does an off duty cop keep his gun? Certainly not on his belt... Perhaps around his ankle? If that's the case then deputy Zariv had one arm in the truck, another reaching for his ankle... And he didn't fall out of the truck?
Did Deputy Zariv announce he was a deputy? What did Zariv do to confirm to Ready he was deputy?
Deputies are responsible for every bullet they fire. Did any of Zariv bullets miss its target? After all he's flailing in a moving truck, shooting with one hand, with a gun that is kicking back.

Once the Sheriff office and the State Attorney's Office complete their investigation hopefully we will have a complete picture. Some questions may be answered easily... Such as Zariv flashed his badge identifying himself as a deputy. Some questions will be more difficult... Such as did Zariv put the public at more risk, taking less accurate shots in desperation.

The reality is, given the circumstance, I too might have opened fire to save my life. But as a Monday morning quaterback... I look at this situation and say how could we have avoided this shooting in the first place.

NBC2 INVESTIGATION GETS RESULTS

2006-11-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

When our first story on gated community security aired this week... I didn't know how the community would recieve it. Would people be angry we tested it? Or would it be the direct opposite.? It turns out we got a little of both.

But we also got something unexpected... change. Tonight we showed you how communities are tightning up, training guards, spending hundreds of thousand of dollars in upgrades and security guards.... are doing it right.

Every now and then a reporter gets the opportunity to tell a story that creates change. That's part of the reason I do this job. If we can improve our community, make a positive impact in life... it's all worth it. It would be what you call it "a good day a work." On this story it was a good two weeks.

I don't celebrate the security changes because we were the tipping point. I celebrate the changes because we may have saved you from a robbery, a domestic dispute, a rape etc.

We live in Southwest Florida for the quality of life. As the population grows... the quality of life will be challanged. Gated communities will one day be more than just a lifestyle... it will be about protecting your family. I believe this report and future reports like it will ensure you get the protection you expect.

Gated Communities Investigation

2006-11-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

Monday's report on gated communities was an eye opener to us and even more so to the people who live in these communities. With an unmarked car we drove up to each gate, waved at the guard, and suddenly the gate opened. We were just as surprised to get in as the residents were when we knocked on their doors to get their reaction.

Over the course of a week we drove into a total of 7 communities... Six were featured on our program. The neighborhoods ranged from million dollar homes to mobile homes. While the income levels changed, as well the amount of association fees, the security didn't. Guards waved us in and in some cases automatically opened the gate... Without even seeing us.

Amazingly, many residents gave us excuses why the guard let us in including:
"You look like someone who lives here."
"You must be driving a marked car."
"You told him you're with the media."

The car was unmarked, we never said a word to anyone at the gate, and I seriously doubt I look like anyone living in these mainly "retirement" communities.

Everyone we spoke with said they would bring the results of our investigation to their associations attention, in hopes of changing things.

Sounds like it's time for another test.

The Sheriff's Office Bait Cars

2006-11-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

Tonight we aired our inside look at the Lee County sheriff's office bait car... It's a story I have been chasing for about two years now. It took this long to do because there were problems with the bait car system, then the Auto theft unit didn't want the community to know what car they were using. The timing finally worked out as the unit is changing out bait cars.

During our two days with the Auto Theft Task Force, we planted the car at convenience stores. With the car running we hoped to catch someone in the act of stealing the car. We had a few people give the car a second look... But no one took the bait. I didn't honestly think we would catch someone... Because the act of stealing this car is a crime of opportunity. It would be luck catching it on camera.

In tonight's story you saw two people caught stealing the bait car earlier this year. We told you Reggi Webb is awaiting trial. Well so is Calvin Mitchell, who Webb tried to sell the car to for drugs. It turns out Mitchell, a career criminal, bonded out 10 days after his arrest. Just hours later he refused to pull over for speeding... Leading Cape Coral Police on a four hour chase. Officers eventually caught him hiding in bushes. Sounds like Mitchell should avoid playing the lottery.

I think the next bait car is going to be very successful. As Detective Brian Gregory put it... The thieves are looking to steal something flashy... Something they want to be seen in. Let's face it a Mitsubishi Galant isn't exactly the ride most people would want to steal. Other agencies in Southwest Florida have bait cars or have access to them. However it seems like they don't use them all to often. Bait cars can sit anywhere for days, and don't need a stake out. When the car is activated, the agency is paged. With that said I would like to see law enforcement use the bait cars more often... after all the more they are used... The more likely they can catch career criminals like Calvin Mitchell.

However keeping them locked up... Is another story.

Where are the posts?

2006-10-23T08:28:00.000-05:00

I want to apologize for not posting over the last few weeks. I have been out of our day to day coverage, working on a number of stories that will air in November.

Stay tuned!

BAUGHER DECIDES TO SAY NOTHING

2006-10-05T09:36:00.001-05:00

When I started this blog I indicated we would talk about the stuff you don't see on television. Today is a perfect example of that.

For the last two weeks I had been in discussions with Scott Moorey, David Baugher's attorney. I wanted to interview David Baugher following his plea deal Tuesday. From the start I'm told Baugher was interested. We had confirmation last Friday and moments after a judge sentenced Baugher Tuesday that he would follow through with an interview Wednesday morning.

Very rarely does the Lee County Sheriff's office allow for interviews of inmates. In this case, since his legal issues we're over and the felon agreed to the interview, it was granted. Waterman Broadcasting had even made preparations to pay for two deputies (security) to sit in the room with us for the interview.

Unfortunately, Baugher changed his mind just minutes before the interview on Wednesday. His attorney told us, "He had apologized and he wanted to put this behind him."

While Baugher is trying to look forward... I believe the interview would have helped Stacie Davis's family get out of the past. They all have questions as to why and how the murder happened. Baugher would have had the opportunity to come clean. And at the same time he would have been given the opportunity to be a little more convincing in his apology. (In court Tuesday the only thing he said to the family was "I'm extremely sorry... Very very sorry.")

Wednesday was frustrating for me as a journalist. It's not about losing an exclusive interview. It's about losing the other side of the story.

TUESDAY'S COURT ROOM BONANZA

2006-10-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

You may catch journalists wearing sneakers downtown on Tuesday. There will be a lot of running around.

At 1pm Sanibel's first murder case in 20 years is expected to end in a plea deal.
A half hour later and a couple of doors down the a judge will hear arguments to seal documents in the high profile Gateway Murder case.

As I have written before, I am curious to see what Fred Cooper's attorney is trying to keep from the public. I'll tell you this... Ken Garber has a lot of reporters scratching their heads saying "we can view depositions?" I did a small (and definitely not scientific) poll of our newsroom and found no one has ever seen deposition during discovery. No one could even tell me what a deposition looks like or who to ask to see one. Apparently we are entitled to it though!

AND NOW TO SANIBEL....

Tuesday, a judge could sign off on a deal to put David Baugher away for 15 years for murder. We already know how Kevin Davis (victim's widow) feels about it. If you missed his comments scroll down to his post.

I wonder how prosecutors feel about the deal.

We interviewed State Attorney Stephen Russell about it after we first learned about it. Because of ethical considerations, he couldn't really comment on it. However, once the deal is accepted in court, Russell should be free to speak. I will be curious to hear why they went for this.
For journalists who cover crime and those involved in law enforcement this deal is appalling. 15 years for a murder is about half of what typically murder convictions end with (25 years to life.) There obviously has to be a reason or something missing/inadmissible for this decision.

I wonder what Baugher thinks about the deal.

As much as I would like to think he's pumping his fist in the air like he just scored a touchdown... I don't think he is doing that. 13 years (with good behavior) is a long time. 13 years ago he was in high school. 13 years from now... 2019... He will be 43.
Aside from the time, he will have to live with the fact he killed Stacie. A mother of two. One of those kids is so young he will only know mom by pictures... The other will soon be fighting time... As memories of mommy fade. That alone is a lot to live with.
I'm sure the jail experience has not been pleasant. But prison will be worse... Not knowing what to expect.

Fred Cooper in '07 .

2006-09-29T14:51:00.000-05:00

This week, as expected, the trial of Fred Cooper was delayed again. I believe it's possible we could see even another continuance in February.

It appears Cooper's attorney, Ken Garber, is finally revving up his case. His deposition list slated for the end of October is extensive. The list includes many of Steven and Michelle Andrews neighbors, and some 20 employees of the Lee County Sheriff's office. I don't envy his job.

Meanwhile, the News-Press is preparing to battle with Garber. I came across a Motion to Intervene filed on Thursday by the paper's attorney. Garber has a hearing next week to seal the deposition of Kellie Ballew, the other woman. The paper, just as any other media outlet, is fighting for public record to stay public record. I am interested to hear why Garber want the documents sealed. I wonder what's in the deposition that could harm Cooper's chances of getting a fair trial. Judge Reese should make a decision next week.

And then maybe we can stop talking about Cooper for another say... 5 months.

Fred Cooper in '07?

2006-09-26T13:55:00.000-05:00

The high profile Gateway Murders trial is slated to start in a couple of weeks. While many are eagerly awaiting to see how this one will play in court... You may be waiting a bit longer.

I would NOT be surprised if the trial is postponed to 2007.

High profile crime rarely goes to trial so quickly.

At an upcoming docket hearing, the judge is expected to rule on Ken Garber's (Cooper's PD) request to seal Kellie Ballew's (the other woman) deposition.

What does Ken not want the public to know about? The request is odd especially with her statements, as well as everyone else interrogations, leaked to the media.

Speculation in North Port

2006-09-24T10:31:00.000-05:00

This post is about all the speculation over Coralrose Fullwood's sudden and tragic death. It is not meant to disrespect her or her family... Which have been through a lot this week.

In television news (not cable news), there is really no room for speculation. I have a minute and half to get you the facts and move on. However this past week there have been few facts to report on in North Port. With each passing day we heard fewer details of what happened to Coralrose. It's by no means North Port chief Terry Lewis fault. He has to protect his investigation.

But for those who need to protect their children, they want answers... Now. And let the speculation begin. He said, she said, my sisters best friend said.

Some of what we heard was ridiculous. Some of it could have some truth. But let's be clear... None of it is true at this point.

LETS SPECULATE:

Monday parents I met in North Port were dead set on this being a sexual predator. They were ready to burn them at the stake. Chief Lewis would just need to say the name of one of the 72 in the city limits... And they would try, convict, and execute him within an hour.

Tuesday, a guy who had a striking resemblance to Carrot Top pulled up next to me near the crime scene. (I knew it wasn't Carrot Top because of the quarter size earring... IN his ear) He said his mom's a probation officer, who heard from the jail chaplain that Dale Fullwood (Coralrose's father) failed his lie detector test horribly. "Carrot Top" then asked me not to go to air with his hot tip until I could verify it.

Wednesday we spoke with sexual offenders/predators in the area. I didn't honestly think we would meet the killer. Those I spoke with couldn't wait for the killer to be caught. As one put it..."Then life can get back to normal." I wonder what normal is for a person on FDLE's offender website? When I asked whether they thought this could be another sexual offender... One said "God I hope not."

Thursday's autopsy report brought speculation among my colleagues. The report showed Coralrose was likely NOT sexually assaulted. A majority of the reporters who discussed the case Thursday were "betting" on this being a family member. Some claimed an autistic brother may have accidentally killed his sister.

In my Thursday night report I asked the question twice (FDLE and NPPD), "Are you zeroing in the family." Both agencies denied they were narrowing their search for a suspect, within the family.

So I guess you would like to hear my speculation?

-Most abductions are done by someone who lives in the neighborhood.
-The Fullwood home is too secluded for this to be random
-6 other people in the home didn't hear Coralrose being taken out of the house
-A father of 5, doesn't suddenly begin sexually assaulting and/or killing his kids.
-The killer is an amateur. The body was found two blocks away. They either freaked out or were about to be caught and got rid of the evidence. They didn't try to hide her.

There are numerous character accounts of how suspicious the Coralrose's father was acting the day of disappearance. I refuse to speculate on that because I'm not sure how I would react to such horrible news.

Could this have been an accident, that was covered up by a family member. Absolutely.
Could it be someone who saw Coralrose's picture on a babysitter flyer and took her. Absolutely.
Could an arrest be days, months, years away. Absolutely.

I believe the North Port police and FDLE have a lot of clues. I don't believe they have a suspect... Yet. Crime scene doesn't go over a house over and over and over... Unless you're looking for something specific... Or you're looking for anything that could break open your case.

Speculate below by clicking on comments.

GOOD JACK... BAD JACK... JESUS JACK YOU'RE ON THE RUNWAY

2006-09-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's report on Jack Brems runway fun was really just the tip of iceberg. If you missed the story:

Brems is now federally indicted for his August 8th escapade at the airport. He busted through a gate, raced up and down the the runway (port authority in tow), and played chicken with a USA 3000 flight taking off. We spoke with his family Wednesday about the new charges... And luck have it, during the interview Jack called from the jail.

Jack seems to think this is nothing more than an accident. He claims he didn't know where he was. That when he saw the plane he moved out of the way (about 20 yards from impact). I guess the airline pilot won that game of chicken?

Jack denies he has any mental issues. He denies he was being chased by police prior to his runway run. Only one thing... I saw Jack running. Headed home from a live shot, I saw Jack Brems hanging out of the window of his car. He was flailing, trying to get traffic to move out of his way so he could turn at the intersection. He clearly appeared to be a crazed man. About a half a mile down the road, I watched Patrol cars whipping by.

Based on family history (per Jacks mother, Dorothy Brems) it appears Jack has had some hard luck lately:

-His father, which he adored, died in 2003.
-He moved down to Southwest Florida to be with his ex-wife... Which fell apart shortly after the ex stole Dorothy Brems identity and racked up 100 grand.
-He got engaged, then the bride-to-be called it off & moved out
-His mother has cancer
-His daughter had just moved out

Family members say Jack's been off his meds for about 3 years. His daughter told us she expected him to blow any day. And when she moved out this summer... It was the fuse that set him off.

Looking at Jack's mug shot... He looks crazed. We're told he would look in the mirror and tell everyone that he looked like Jesus. I can see that.

But there was a good Jack as well...

It should be interesting to see how this plays out. Will Jack be competent?

Or will good Jack meet bad Jack in court.... (Aaron Stampler, Primal Fear 1996)

KEVIN DAVIS, ON LIFE, ON "THE DEAL" - IN HIS OWN WORDS

2006-09-08T15:12:00.000-05:00

At the bottom of every post on this blog you have the ability to reply. But you're limited in how many words you can post. So tonight, at Kevin Davis's request, we are posting his lengthy response to my August 14th post about Sanibel's first murder being the product of a love triangle.

These are his thoughts... unedited. For more on Davis and a plea agreement reached in the Baugher case click here.

It's been 3 months since that horrific night, the night I found out my beautiful wife, Stacie, had been viciously and heinously murdered. After weeks of the unknowing, the tragic news of her demise was officially announced to me by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. My feelings, I cannot describe. Numb, angry, devastated, those are just a few of the emotions I felt, and at times still do. Life will never be the same for me and OUR two children ever again. One selfish, and cowardly individual took her away from us. I don't say "SICK" because that is just what he, and his defense would want you to think........that he's mentally sick. The bottom line is, he knew what he was doing when he picked Stacie up in the middle of the night, on April 28th. He had a plan that fateful night, and he carried it out. I've seen the stories, I've seen the "so called" motive, but I don't for a second believe any of it. Stacie was the most gentile, caring, and loving individual. Unfortunately, she was also very trusting.....too trusting as it turns out. Yes, we had our problems, we had things that needed to be corrected. But that didn't mean I didn't love that girl with all my heart and soul. In fact, as it turned out, that was the hardest decision I ever made, leaving Southwest Florida. And it also turned out to be the worst decision I ever made. If in fact what has been reported is true, I have an extremely hard time accepting the charge of second degree murder. This was premeditated from the beginning. He had a plan, his plan was to be with his old girlfriend. The same girlfriend who followed him and Stacie one evening and even showed up at my in laws house out of the blue, on a Saturday afternoon. You want possessive, you want obsessive, you're looking at the wrong girl. Stacie was killed brutally, because she trusted Baugher. She thought they were still friends from high school. She didn't think that someone she knew prior, someone she trusted, would eventually take her life. HE DID.

I write to you today, because it's time that I am heard, my family is heard. I have sat back for months and watched lie after lie after lie come out about my wife. All the while glorifying and glamorizing the perpetrator, because of who his family is. Stace had issues, I won't deny that, but she didn't have to die without respect...........AND SHE DID. Our two children will never know their mother completely. Fortunately, our daughter Cierra, had six wonderful years with her mommy. Our son, Dylan, WILL NEVER KNOW HIS MOMMY. That is cruel, and completely unfair.

As for me, I'll live forever with the unknowing. If, in fact, we had a chance to resume our lives as normal and raise our two children together. That too is unfair and cruel. We'll persevere, we'll continue to try and heal, but we'll never be the same. I personally, will forever have a huge void in my life now, all due to one selfish, and cowardly individual.
Please pray for my family, as well as Stacie's mother, father, and sister. And please, please, please pray for justice!!

Sincerely,
Kevin J. Davis

Christopher Ward guilty of Murder?

2006-09-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

Friday a jury convicted Christopher Ward of Second degree murder, but many could argue why? The charges - the case is just bizarre.

In October 2003 Ward led Fort Myers officers around town in a low speed chase. Responding rookie Daniel Starks blew through a stop sign, only to be hit by a fellow officer. Starks died. And while Starks and Ward never met each other during the entire episode, Ward was brought up on murder charges.

The concept (or law) works like this: Ward committed a felony that set in motion a series of events that led to Starks death.

We did several stories about what happened including an investigation that revealed Starks was negligent. He ran the stop sign, a direct violation of pursuit policy. The Fort Myers Police Department would never point the finger and say that though. Why would they? This is an officer that was beloved by everyone. Starks was a guy who couldn't wait to be a cop, loved being in uniform, and was engaged to the love of his life. Who would say "he messed up"? People were devastated back then... And today. It was a sudden and tragic end for a man who had great potential.

All that aside, I find it odd how an officer could be so negligent and someone else takes the blame. Starks is gone because he ran the stop sign. Ward will spend the rest of his life in prison because he made some stupid decisions to lead officers around town.

I am not vouching that Ward is or could become a model citizen. I'm not saying he deserves to be on the street... But he sets a precedent. To better understand here is an example:

Let's take the big bad drug dealer out of the defendants chair... And put you in drivers seat. You make a stupid decision one night and drive home drunk. An officer attempts to pull you over, you get scared and don't stop. A cop a mile away, trying to respond to help pull you over, runs a traffic light and crashes. Whether he lives or dies... Your responsible.

I though police work was inherently dangerous? I thought they go through extensive training to handle any situation? They fire their gun and kill someone, they're responsible. They run a traffic signal... They're not?

The law is a funny thing... Unless your Christopher Ward.

The Media on Trial?

2006-08-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

Monday's venue hearing for Fred Cooper felt like the local media was on trial. The defense submitted CD's documenting hundreds of reports done on the Gateway case. (Yes, I believe NBC2 may have had the most reports on any television station... Not that we were competing for the title)

Public Defender Robert Jacobs argued his client couldn't get a fair trial because of our "prejudice reports". First I would say prejudice is a strong word. A lot of thought goes into every story... To tell it as fairly and as factual as possible.

It is extremely difficult to tell a story that no one wants to talk about it. By no one I mean: prosecutors, Cooper's public defender, family members, close friends, neighbors... And as we've seen not even Cooper's mother. Everyone has their reasons for not talking. However I don't think much could be said at this point that would have significant impact on the case... That is unless Cooper's going to confess or suddenly a new suspect turns himself in.

So with no one talking... We are left with the facts and that's what we report. Deposition and court dates become a big deal. And young reporters are learning the rules of a beautiful thing called "discovery."

In court Monday, prosecutor Tony Kunasek compared this case to that of the Lords of Chaos. (1996 - Teenagers who killed a Riverdale band teacher) Kunasek was trying to make a point that those teenagers received a fair trial with a jury picked in Southwest Florida. This is not the first time I've heard the comparison of Gateway to the Lords of Chaos. Those who were around 10 years ago in our newsroom and our community, say Coopers case has become just as big a deal (if not bigger). All that's missing is the national media... Which I expect to arrive around trial time.

One has to wonder though, does Cooper really deserve all of this coverage? The media has a responsibility to keep the public informed. I believe we are definitely doing that. But have we gone overboard? Somewhere over the past 8 months... This story gained a powerful tabloid element. I'm not sure what launched the story to such status... But I can only assume it's a combination of things including: those disturbing emails, the "perfect life" everyone thought the Andrews lived, and a little boy left to be raised by his grandparents.

Realizing the potential of the Gateway story, it is without a doubt television stations and newspapers are trying to maximize this story to gain and retain viewers. We have aired this story so much... We've become part of it (venue hearing).

PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW

SANIBEL MURDER MOTIVE: ANOTHER LOVE TRIANGLE?

2006-08-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

The case of Sanibel's first murder in more than 20 years is one that has perplexed me for some time. David Baugher is being held on $500,000 bond for murdering Stacie Davis, a girl he was dating. What perplexed me was why would he kill?

Baugher is known by friends and family to be pretty laid back and non-violent. Investigations we have done have shown he had a drug problem (likely pain killers). I have a hard time believing he killed for or because he was on pain killers.

Today we took a second look at the discovery of the case (evidence the State Attorney's office is building) and found new statements made by the woman who turned Baugher in. There it was (as if I should have known from the start)... The motive: another "Love triangle." However a bit deranged.

Baugher was dating a woman named Angela Rovere and Stacie Davis at the same time. Rovere found out and cut Baugher off. Devastated, Baugher tries to break things off with Davis. But even then Rovere wouldn't take him back. Angry, Baugher took Davis to Sanibel and killed her. He then expects Rovere to take him back?

It all makes sense... and yet it doesn't. Did Scott Peterson write a manual?

Baugher's thought pattern seem deranged and unstable. Rovere mentions that several times in her testimony. Baugher's brother makes similar statements. Which leads me to the question many of you probably have... Could Baugher use an insanity defense? Perhaps he could pull a "Justin Grodin" with a "Mental Heart Attack".

Don't get me wrong. Mental illness is a serious issue. And if Baugher is sick he should get some help. But he also knew right from wrong. He tried to cover his tracks and his confessions.
How devastating would it be to Stacie Davis' widowed husband, their children, her parents... If he walks out of a courtroom... Without a trial.

I'm sure Kevin Davis is probably wondering why... If this motive holds true... Isn't Baugher charged with First Degree murder?

PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW

Another Internal Investigation, Another embarrassment?

2006-08-11T12:53:00.000-05:00

Thursday the Lee County Sheriff's office announced the results of an internal investigation involving high level members. The allegations: Captain Jeff Hollan and two of his deputies (Detective Jessica Schipansky - lieutenant Kim Falk) were performing lap dances and essentially openly flirting with each other at a private party. The party was for outgoing Captain Dennis Brooks... Who Hollan was replacing. The investigation also alleges some favoritism on behalf of Hollan towards his two dancing deputies. (No, I don't believe Gina Wisely was there)

The allegations were proven true, as far as internal affairs is concerned. Ok, so you're guilty of being human and perhaps making some poor decisions. Embarrassing decisions. But really, should you be fired for performing a lap dance at a private party, off duty? I would think a demotion, suspension, etc would be more in line.

To me, they really screwed up WHEN THEY LIED.

During the investigation several witnesses came forward, members of the sheriff's office. They gave accounts of seeing the three rubbing, fondling, and kissing among other things. Before being questioned by internal affairs investigator Lt. Bob Sherry, all three of the accused had the opportunity to read the transcripts of all those witnesses (some 16). After reading them, they still denied the allegations.

They then agreed to take polygraph tests? And failed! I don't get it... These are smart cops. If they aren't how did they make it to the higher ranks? Did they really think they were going to beat the system? Have they done so in the past?

I say once you have dirty danced, read eyewitness accounts about it and boldly lied... You deserve to be fired. I guess they beat the Sheriff to the punch... To keep their pension... To keep a clear record?

As embarrassing as this internal investigation and others have been this year.... I have to commend our sheriff's office. They are not sweeping their problems under the rug. They are addressing them.

Let's face it... with an agency of I believe 1,400 members, people are going to screw up.

Fred Cooper Speaks? Fact or Fiction

2006-08-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

The Fred Cooper case takes another unusual turn?

A viewer wrote to me today to inform me about a web forum post made (allegedly) by Fred Cooper's grandmother. The letter is said to be an open letter Cooper sent her to post on the internet... to his "fans."

First read the post:

"I would like to thank those of you that have supported my innocence and have chosen not to buy into what the LCSO would have you believe. As my trial gets closer there will be evidence brought to light that the LCSO doesn't want you to know yet. For example; certain reports were purposely left out of the information leaked to the media (by the LCSO). When I was arrested on January 11th the LCSO held a press conference stating that they had Positively identified my DNA under one of Michelle Andrews fingernails. They also led people to believe that my jacket was covered in blood. Neither of those statements having any truth to them, and their own laboratories have proven this. I am innocent of all charges brought against me and their own lab reports will prove this in court. I would just like to thank those of you that have kept an open mind and have chosen to wait until the evidence (or lack thereof) is presented and not believe everything the LCSO would say without question. Once everything is brought to light in this case, I am certain the public will have a hard time believing anything the LCSO has to say.I also want to thank those of you who have offered to set up a fund in my behalf. Although I could not accept it, I appreciate your offer of kindness.Your thoughts and prayers mean a great deal to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

WOW! Right?

I immediately called Cooper's public defender to verify the authenticity of the post. After all, you would think someone being held on two first degree murder charges would first clear this kind of message with their attorney first.

News of the post not only surprised Public Defender Ken Garber... he asked where can he could find this "letter." I sent him a copy and a link. After allowing him time to review I called Garber back to verify if his client had written the letter. Garber says he wants to think it over before he responds.

So unfortunately there is no confirmation yet whether Cooper is really breaking his silence. Almost everyone I've spoken to about the post believe it to be fiction. Their comments include "It's too well written" and "Come on... a fund for Cooper!?"

Part of us in the media wants to believe Cooper is speaking out. Especially since no one directly related to this case has spoken out (Cooper's mother, Kellie Ballew, the Andrews, the Kokoras).
However the timing of this letter seems a bit odd to me... as if someone is trying to ensure that Cooper's case is moved out of the area. We (the media) go nuts about his letter, broadcast it, print it, and a judge sees how "Cooper Crazy" Southwest Florida is.

We're not broadcasting it until the letter is authenticated.

See you in court on August 21st. (Decision day)
________________________________________________

UPDATE AUGUST 22, 2006

Ken Garber has opted to not comment on the letter "allegedely posted" by Fred's grandmother.

It looks like decision day... could now be any day or never.

Locking up a local Pastor

2006-08-02T14:45:00.000-05:00

WARNING THIS BLOG HAS GRAPHIC DETAILS OF A MOLESTATION CASE

Tuesday's report on a Fort Myers Pastor accused of molesting children within his parish is one of the most disturbing stories I've covered in some time. Some of the graphic details we didn't broadcast on the air, included accounts from various children. They described the pastor giving them hugs, then running his hands down their pants. They described the pastor making them strip and then he would strip and molest them with his genitals. Their is also an account given by the pastors wife... But it's blocked out. What did she know about all this? Did she keep his secret?

Despite all of the accusations, church members say they still think the Pastor is a great man. "He made a mistake... He will pay the price... But he's still a great role model." Then there is those who choose not to believe the Pastor committed these horrible crimes... despite six children now coming forward.

Six children making all this up? Why?

Fort Myers Police say Pastor Russell Brown confessed to some of the molestation, even expressed remorse. Brown, you need not address your remorse to the police. You were a trusted member of society and a mentor to these children. The embarrassing announcement of your arrest is over... Now step up and address what was your congregation, your community, your family. A church resignation LETTER, hiding the truth behind your abrupt departure, doesn't count.

Brown is charged with life felonies. Meaning if found guilty he will spend the rest of his life (he's 53) in prison. I hope sometime between now and the conviction he comes forward to apologize. I don't know if he should expect forgiveness, though.

Maybe I'm a bit tough on Pastor Brown... but what about those children. Life is forever changed for them.

Lehigh woman & mother murdered

2006-07-26T16:34:00.000-05:00

The story of Lori Stone and Whitney Mendez is a sad one. Even sadder for Mendez's two-year-old son, who can almost be considered an "orphan" now.

Tonight we did a story about Mendez's estranged husband, Juan Mendez. We found a restraining order recently submitted by Whitney and police reports documenting two other woman who accused Juan of abuse. It's tough for many to understand why a woman would stick around these abusive men, much less have a child with them.

Tonight's story proved difficult. On one side you have a tight lipped sheriff's office that will not confirm that Juan is a suspect or a person of interest. ("They're talking to him, he's cooperating")

The other side says, take a look at this domestic violence history, check out this restraining order in which he threatened to kill Whitney. I can present the facts... but what if the accusations are false? You can't ask Juan, he's gone. No where to be found.

In the end we go with the story because of the totality of Juan's arrests and convictions for domestic violence. So there is a high probability the restraining order could be truthful. And that's for you to decide, anyway. It would have been nice to confront Juan about it, though... hear his side.

If Juan is not innocent, which many believe is the case, this story should hit home for victims of domestic violence. Get out - get help - do it early on... before it becomes the monster that Whitney Mendez was trying to get away from.

Click on this link to see the story and restraining order Whitney filed.

Cape Crime to increase 50%, 60%, 70% in 2006?

2006-07-14T13:50:00.000-05:00

Statistics can be boring... Especially in television. But numbers we came across in Thursday's report on the "latest" Cape shooting is alarming. In 2005 there were 135 aggravated assaults in Cape Coral... i.e. a fight involving a weapon. This year, just 7 months in, that number is at 138.

Crime appears to be catching up with Cape Coral growth. Could we see a 50%, 60%, maybe even a 70% increase in crime this year?

At the same time, the Cape is going through transition at its highest ranks. The departure of Dan Alexander couldn't come at a more pivotal time.

What will the new chief do to get crime levels back in check? From all accounts heard so far, both candidates for the job want to run the department just like Alexander did. That doesn't sit well with many I've spoken within the agency.

On numerous occasions past and present officers have said the agency has gone soft. "They used to hire 'cops cops.'" "They ran a tight ship and didn't put up with any bull." "They" say it all changed when Alexander took over. Now that ______ is taking over... will it change again?

Whoever takes over will have a big task ahead of them. The Cape is not the same place they grew up in. Slum apartments are growing. Seniors who moved here for peaceful times are moving. Skyrocketing real estate prices have dramatically increased the gap between the haves and the have nots.

Maybe it's time to shift more of those impact fees into public safety.

A new venture

2006-07-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

Picture two televisions in front you. One has NBC news on… the other nothing. That’s how I feel about my reports. The stuff you see may be interesting. The stuff you don’t see, although you wouldn’t know it, is fascinating.

One of the biggest challenges about my job is what I don’t report. I’m talking about the tips, the rumors, the inside stuff you never hear about. So the internet division and I are teaming up. On this blog we will discuss the latest crime stories, theories and everything in between. Think of it as insight into what a reporter must dig through to find the truth. Think of it as an opportunity to learn more about a story that affects you. Think of it as a place to share information that may lead to who knows… a story!

My goal is to post here two to four times a week. I should place a disclaimer that I may at times offer an opinion or an idea. This is not the view of Waterman Broadcasting, WBBH, or WZVN. These thoughts are to encourage conversation, to which I encourage you to post responses.

David Sutta