"Good afternoon, Today, I want to talk about something that quietly affects families, workplaces, and entire neighborhoods—substance use and the urgent need for a detox and recovery unit within our community. Addiction is not a distant issue. It is not something that happens somewhere else, to someone else. It is here. It affects our friends,... Continue Reading →

April 21, 2026 - Englewood, FL A Cape Coral man was arrested immediately after stealing two marine GPS units valued at $5,000 each. Around 1:30am on Sunday, April 19, deputies observed a suspicious vehicle driving "blacked-out" (with all lights off) on Bourbon Street in Englewood. The vehicle then braked and made a sudden turn off... Continue Reading →

April 10, 2026 - Charlotte County, FL The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has officially begun transitioning to our new Administration Building in Port Charlotte. The current building, located at 7474 Utilities Road, has served as the official headquarters for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for more than a quarter century. As the needs of the... Continue Reading →

April 8, 2026 - Punta Gorda, FL The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is requesting community assistance to identify a deceased female found in the water late last month. On March 29, 2026, a deceased female, likely between the ages of 50 and 80 years old, was found in Hunter Creek near the... Continue Reading →

April 2, 2026 - Port Charlotte, FL A woman is behind bars after opening fire on a vehicle as it left the scene where a juvenile was attacked. Around 4:30pm on Wednesday, April 1, deputies responded to a disturbance with shots fired at Lake Betty Park located at 2215 Conway Boulevard in Port Charlotte. Due to... Continue Reading →

March 27, 2026 - Punta Gorda, FL A 20-year-old man was intercepted by detectives while attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex. On March 27th, 2026, detectives with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit arrested Kevin Lopez Perez (8/20/2005), of Bradenton, after learning that he came to Charlotte County and had a... Continue Reading →

March 25, 2026 - Punta Gorda, FL A man was arrested with trafficking amounts of cocaine after selling the drug in the parking lot of a local bar. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit learned that Phillip Jerome Barker, Jr. (9/27/1989), a man they had been investigating and for whom they had probable cause... Continue Reading →

March 13, 2026 - Charlotte County, FL A Charlotte County violent offender with multiple arrests will serve 25 years in prison after pleading No Contest to various charges. On March 11, 2026, Anthony Mojica (3/17/2005) stood in a Charlotte County courtroom for sentencing after pleading Nolo-Contendere on multiple charges. The Honorable Judge Shannon McFee announced... Continue Reading →

March 11, 2026 - Englewood, FL Two people were arrested after a juvenile in their care came into contact with fentanyl at LA Ainger Middle School. On the morning of Tuesday, March 10, deputies responded to LA Ainger Middle School in reference to a student who was not breathing. As deputies arrived, they found the... Continue Reading →

March 10, 2026 - Charlotte County, FL CCSO Detective Don Woelke has been recognized as "Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" for the second consecutive year by the US Attorney's Office Middle District of Florida. The US Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, presented an award to Detective Don Woelke of the Charlotte County... Continue Reading →