December 22, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A woman was arrested after slicing a man's arm with a knife at a homeless camp in Port Charlotte. Just after noon on 12/21/25, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office units responded to the intersection of Kenesaw Street & Cedarwood Street in Port Charlotte in reference to a physical altercation... Continue Reading →
Man Shoots Father to Death, Turns Himself In
December 9, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A Port Charlotte man was arrested after shooting his father to death and returning to the scene to turn himself in. Just after 7pm on Monday, December 8, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received calls and texts to 911 reporting gunshots in the area of Abscott Street in... Continue Reading →
CCSO Corrections Lieutenant Mourned Following Fatal Motorcycle Accident on Thanksgiving Weekend
December 1, 2025 - Charlotte County, FL The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office mourns the loss of Corrections Lieutenant William Garlick following a fatal motorcycle accident on Thanksgiving weekend. Heading home from work on the evening of Saturday, November 29, 2025, CCSO Corrections Lieutenant William Garlick's motorcycle collided with another vehicle as it attempted to make... Continue Reading →
Man Charged with Illegally Selling Firearm Used in Homicide
November 25, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A Port Charlotte man has been arrested after detectives determined he knowingly sold a firearm to a suspect which was ultimately used in the killing of another man. On July 5, 2025, a 19-year-old by the name of Michael Balunas shot and killed another teenager named Anthony Romero... Continue Reading →
Port Charlotte High School Student Arrested for Threatening to ‘Bomb and Kill’ Teacher
November 20, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A student at Port Charlotte high school was arrested on Thursday afternoon for making threats towards a teacher on Instagram. On Thursday, November 20, deputies responded to Port Charlotte High School after a tip was called in by an FBI Intake Research Specialist. The caller noted that an... Continue Reading →
Charlotte County Most Wanted Fugitive Caught in Oregon
October 27, 2025 - Charlotte County, FL A violent fugitive who has been on Charlotte County's "Most Wanted" list for over three years was tracked down and arrested while hiding out in Oregon. Steven Charles Whitney (03/16/1978) has three active felony warrants in Charlotte County, Florida with one of those warrants stemming from an incident... Continue Reading →
Rubbed the Wrong Way
October 16, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL Two women were arrested after soliciting sex with undercover deputies at a pair of massage parlors. On Wednesday, October 15, members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit conducted an undercover operation following tips received in reference to illegal prostitution at a pair of Port Charlotte massage... Continue Reading →
Filing a False Report and Other Charges for Sebring Man in Charlotte County
October 10, 2025 - Babcock Ranch, FL A Sebring man was arrested after filing a false report of being carjacked by another man with a gun. Shortly before 7am on Friday, October 10, 2025, the members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office (District 5) responded to a call claiming a carjacking had occurred and an... Continue Reading →
No High-Speed Chase, but Arrest was In-Tents!
September 30, 2025 - Punta Gorda, FL A man known for fleeing from law enforcement in vehicles opted not to run on foot from a K9 deputy. A Punta Gorda man, identified as Richard Howard Schumacher (1/27/1990), fled from Charlotte County deputies on two separate occasions in September: on the 14th in a pickup truck... Continue Reading →
Charlotte County Deputies Bust Statewide Diesel Theft Ring
September 24, 2025 - Punta Gorda, FL Charlotte County deputies caught members of a statewide diesel fuel theft ring in the act at a gas station in Punta Gorda. Just before midnight on Monday, September 22, Charlotte County deputies were made aware of some vehicles of interest (semi trucks) in multiple diesel fuel thefts entering... Continue Reading →