Free Republic

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — A repair technician working on a Florida woman’s phone found an “explicit video” among her files and made a copy for himself, authorities said. According to a news release from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Cody Austin Terry, 28, of North Port, was arrested on Monday. He was charged with accessing a computer or electronic device without authority, WINK-TV reported. According to the sheriff’s office, the victim took her iPhone to an I-Fix store in Port Charlotte and left it with the suspect for approximately two hours to be repaired. Deputies allege that Terry browsed the...

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An 83-year-old Port Charlotte man who was trapped under a golf cart for several hours was rescued by an unlikely duo — two Waste Management workers. According to a release from the company, driver Alex Galarza and assistant driver Paulino Ortega were driving along their regular route Monday when they noticed the man trapped under a golf cart at the end of a Port Charlotte driveway. The workers immediately dialed 911 and started providing first aid treatment while authorities were en route. In talking to the man, the workers noticed he was showing signs of hypothermia...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A Florida man was caught in the middle of an escape attempt when a detective found him hanging from the ceiling of an interview room following a burglary arrest, authorities said. Terence Meehan, 29, of Punta Gorda was arrested Monday after a homeowner reported he was pacing on their lanai a day after stealing cash from a child’s bedroom, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Deputies responded to the home on Abrade Avenue in Port Charlotte where a perimeter was set up to look for Meehan who took off running after authorities arrived. Neighbors...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - A woman was shot by a homeowner after breaking into a house on Strasburg Drive in Port Charlotte, according to deputies. Jessica Gutzler, 40, broke into the home around 7 p.m. then started fighting the homeowner, Robert Lafata. During the fight, Lafata said he shot Gutzler in her butt. He said Gutzler used to date one of his female friends. Gutzler then ran away, but later called 911 asking for medical assistance. Deputies found her near Strasburg Drive and Seaton Avenue, then took her to a medical facility to be treated. She will be charged...

A Florida woman wanted for allegedly shoplifting at a Big Lots store was arrested after trying to make her getaway through a less traditional route: the ceiling. Kristina Perkins, 37, was in the store, located in Port Charlotte, for several hours on Thursday night before she "entered the women’s restroom with a shopping cart full of merchandise." The store manager tried to check on Perkins in the bathroom, but noticed "several garbage cans positioned in a manner to barricade the door," the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said in a news release about the incident. Perkins was advised that she was...

Our early voting started yesterday at the Charlotte Mid-County Library. The title article caught my eye this morning. Two Republican poll workers arrived, much earlier than normal library opening, and had just exited their car when they saw a car go airborne into the canal adjoining the library property. They ran to the canal, one grabbed a brick from the landscape edging to break windows. Both jumped in and found an elderly couple in the rapidly sinking car. The couple had been able to roll the windows down but the door locks would not release. The poll workers each pulled...

"This home is just one more way we can honor the Americans who have fought to defend our country with pride and valor," said Gov. Jeb Bush. State's newest nursing home for vets should ease need for care Tuesday, June 18, 2002 Associated Press PORT CHARLOTTE - The waiting list hasn't even been started, but there's already plenty of interest in the state's newest nursing home for veterans, officials said Monday. At a groundbreaking ceremony for the Douglas T. Jacobson nursing home in Charlotte County, state officials said they expect all 120 beds in the facility to be filled a...