September 8, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A student at the Charlotte Harbor Center was arrested Monday evening after a written threat to commit violence at the school was found on his desk. On Monday, September 8, detectives responded to the Charlotte Harbor Center after students had left for the day in reference to a... Continue Reading →

September 8, 2025 - Charlotte County, FL In a great example of interagency collaboration, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office have uncovered an organized theft ring responsible for an estimated $2 million-plus in stolen property since 2021.Detectives have identified a group of suspects involved in 45 felony cases across 17... Continue Reading →

September 5, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A section of US41 will be officially designated as "Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial Highway" at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on September 9. Nine months after losing his life during a traffic stop at the Chevron Gas Station at US41 and Melbourne St., Charlotte County Sheriff's Office... Continue Reading →

September 3, 2025 - Punta Gorda, FL An investigation led to the arrest of a 15-year-old Charlotte High School student after deputies received a tip regarding a school threat. On the morning of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received a tip that indicated a 15-year-old student was planning violence at a... Continue Reading →

September 2, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL A Port Charlotte man was arrested after assaulting a couple outside of Publix, spraying them in the face with bug spray. At approximately 2pm on Sunday, August 31, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to Publix located on Cochran Blvd. after receiving a call regarding a physical altercation.... Continue Reading →

August 13, 2025 - Punta Gorda, FL A teenage boy is in custody after using a modified airsoft gun to rob a convenience store for vape pens. On August 13 at approximately 1:00 p.m. deputies responded to the Deep Creek Discount Store on Sandhill Blvd. in Punta Gorda in reference to an armed robbery. Once... Continue Reading →

July 10, 2025 - Punta Gorda, FL After an investigation began in April into the allegations against Dagoberto Pena, Detective Don Woelke who is assigned to the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force has federally indicted Pena on four charges related to child pornography. DAGOBERTO PENA (06/14/1988) On April 26, 2025, Charlotte County... Continue Reading →

July 8, 2025 - Port Charlotte, FL Three days after the investigation began, detectives have arrested and charged a second suspect in the Hernando Avenue shooting. On July 5th in the 22000 block of Hernando Avenue in Port Charlotte a dispute between two teenagers led to Michael Balunas being charged with 2nd degree murder for... Continue Reading →

An ongoing argument between two teenagers turned violent, leaving one injured and the other pronounced deceased on scene. On July 5th, 2025, at approximately 5:20pm, a 911 caller reported a shooting in the area of the 22000 block of Hernando Avenue in Port Charlotte. The responding deputies located two males with gunshot wounds when they... Continue Reading →