Hurricane Irma Was a Wake-Up Call for Many Southwest Florida Residents

PINEWOODS $524,000 Gulfshore Playhouse plans a high-energy 15th anniversary NEAPOLITAN, 1D Coastal Collection 413.773.9247 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019 ❚ NAPLESNEWS.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Marco officer put on leave; job in doubt Prosecutors consider him unreliable witness Devan Patel Marco Eagle USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA A Marco Island police officer on SURVEY: the State Attorney’s Office do-not- subpoena list has been taken off patrol and placed on administra- tive leave as the city reviews his employment status. Despite the state office placing Officer Tige Thompson on the do- CLIMATE not-subpoena list several years ago, he had been allowed to remain on patrol for two lengthy stints, including during most of Police Chief Al Schettino’s tenure. It wasn’t until Thompson’s recent involvement in a few high- profile arrests — including one in- CHANGE A cident where SWAT was called after a man barricaded himself in his home with weapons — that new City Manager David Harden be- came aware of Thompson’s status. Harden announced in an email to the Marco Eagle on Monday that CONCERN See MARCO OFFICER, Page 17A Fort Myers captain Flooding was widespread in the Quinn Street neighborhood of Bonita Springs on Sept. 16, 2017, six days under review for after Hurricane Irma struck Southwest Florida. NICOLE RAUCHEISEN/NAPLES DAILY NEWS ’09 homicide case Melanie Payne and Melissa Montoya Fort Myers News-Press Hurricane Irma was a wake-up call USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA for many Southwest Florida residents A second top Fort Myers Police Department official is under inves- tigation, accused of botching a Amy Bennett Williams severe weather in recent years, results showed. homicide case involving a prime Naples Daily News “(Hurricane) Irma was our wake-up call,” Moher suspect who two years later ac- USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA said. That’s why the Naples-based nonprofit com- cepted a plea in a separate killing. missioned the survey to gauge the depth of local Capt. William Newhouse, who Three-quarters of Southwest Floridians believe knowledge and interest in finding solutions. Results oversees the police climate change is happening, and most worry about showed the disaster greatly increased local concern department’s ad- it, according to a pioneering survey released about climate change and spurred the desire to pre- ministrative bureau, Wednesday by the Conservancy of Southwest Flori- pare for its impacts. is under review for da. The research, conducted in September, was part of his work in the 2009 Although national attitudes have been widely a national survey by ecoAmerica and Lake Research homicide investiga- studied and reported, the nonprofit’s survey is the Partners. In Southwest Florida, 401 people were tion of Danielle first region-specific research of its kind, said Presi- polled, most in Lee and Collier counties. Its margin of Newhouse Blackburn. A former dent and CEO Rob Moher. error was 4.9 percent. officer accused Ne- Residents care and want to see concrete action, Other key takeaways include: whouse of mishan- with seven in 10 residents concerned about climate dling the case. The same former of- change, and three-quarters of them observing more See CLIMATE, Page 4A ficer also provided a video purport- edly showing another top department official, Capt. Jay Rodriguez, paying for a sex act during a 2013 prostitution sting. Tally of ‘hate groups’ surges Weather Volume 95th | No. 212 Daily $2.50 Police Chief Derrick Diggs Home delivery pricing inside Southern Poverty Law Center’s labels High 86° ❚ Low 67° Subscribe 800-404-7343 on some controversial, though. 15A Partly sunny. Inside, 10B ©2019 See CAPTAIN, Page 5A Miromar Lakes draws together people who believe in enjoying the most of each sun-drenched day. The#1CommunityintheUSA 022119-0604 New Waterfront Homes and Golf Villas from $1 Million to over $7 Million • MiromarLakes.com • (239) 425-2340 700-Acre Lake | 3 Miles of Private White-Sand Beach|2Marinas | Boating | Water Skiing | Kayaking | Fishing | Signature Championship Golf | Tennis | Bocce | Wellness Spa | Fitness Center | 3 Restaurants | Dynamic Social Scene ...All in one Luxurious Location 4A ❚ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019 ❚ NAPLES DAILY NEWS + Woman, 20, killed HEAT WAVE in fatal truck crash Naples sets record; on Oil Well Road Fort Myers is close Chad Gillis scenario is making it impossible for Fort Myers News-Press cold fronts from the north to punch USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA into the region. Injured passenger in Immokalee Fire Rescue, North Collier “We currently have a ridge of high Fire Rescue and Florida Highway Patrol Fort Myers was hot, but Naples pressure set up over the western At- car goes to hospital responded to the call. was hotter Tuesday as a heat wave lantic and the east coast of Florida Emily Acosta, 20, from Hialeah Gar- that’s gripped the region for several and that’s just allowing warm south- dens, was driving a 2012 Honda Civic days continued to rage. east winds into the area,” Norman Jessica Rodriguez westbound on Oil Well Road and lost “We set the record yesterday with said. “It’s similar to a pattern we’d see Naples Daily News control. The Honda Civic went into the 90 degrees, and the old record was 87 in the summer as far as large-scale USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA eastbound lane and struck a 2001 Inter- in 1987,” Larry Kelly, a meteorologist goes.” national 4700 truck, according to an with the National Weather Service in Kelly said the heat wave is expect- One person died and another was in- FHP incident report. Miami, said of Naples. “It’s also a rec- ed to last into next week. jured after a crash Wednesday after- Acosta died, and Kathryn Houbolt, ord for the month of February.” “There’s another front that could noon involving a truck carrying toma- 21, from Oak Lawn, Illinois, a passenger Fort Myers peaked at 89 de- make it’s way down here maybe early toes on Oil Well Road near Desoto Bou- in the Honda Civic, was taken to NCH grees, which ties a record set in to mid next week and it could ap- levard. North with serious injuries, according to 1944, according to weather service proach the region,” he said, “but we’ll Oil Well Road shut down around 1:30 the FHP report. records. have to keep an eye on it to see if it p.m. in both directions between Desoto The driver of the truck, Francisco Sa- “It set a record but it really tied the reaches us in South Florida or stall Boulevard and Oil Well Grade Road due lazar, 44, did not suffer any injuries, the record,” said Dustin Norman, a mete- outs.” to the crash, a tweet from the Collier report states. orologist for the National Weather Connect with this reporter: Chad- County Sheriff’s Office said. This is a developing story and will be Service in Ruskin, which covers Fort GillisNP on Twitter. The road reopened around 6 p.m. updated once new information is avail- Myers. Follow the Save Our Water Face- Wednesday. able. Norman said the current weather book page. Survey results 76% have noticed more severe weather and changing seasonal weather patterns in recent years 75% believe that climate change is happening Don Manley, left, and Pedro Castellano pull Manley’s boat, loaded with residents’ belongings, along flooded Chapman Avenue in Bonita Springs on Sept. 15, 2017, five days after Hurricane Irma.NICOLE RAUCHEISEN/NAPLES DAILY NEWS Climate 71% are concerned Continued from Page 1A about climate change ❚ 76 percent have noticed more severe weather and changing seasonal weather patterns in recent years ❚ 75 percent believe that climate change is happening ❚ 71 percent are concerned about climate change ❚ 59 percent believe that the effects of climate change have already begun to happen Many residents believe the govern- 59% ment should be responsible for protect- believe that the ing people from climate change’s im- effects of climate pact, an interesting finding from the change have already survey, said Jennifer Roberts, of the begun to happen nonprofit ecoAmerica. Olga Schramm takes a video on her phone of the damage as she rides into “(The results) are surprising, looking SOURCE: Conservancy of Southwest Florida at demographics of Southwest Florida,” Everglades City, trying to get home to Chokoloskee on Sept. 11, 2017, after she said. Hurricane Irma. KATIE KLANN/NAPLES DAILY NEWS “There’s been a partisan divide on it in the past which we had noticed na- tionally is narrowing ... 84 percent want prevent future climate change it would west Florida Community Foundation It’s clear the hurricane affected a communities to prepare, and two-thirds improve our health,” said Roberts, the and the Conservancy of Southwest Flor- number of organizations in a variety of said the government is the one that former mayor of Charlotte, N.C. ida. sectors “and their ability to achieve their needs to help protect people.” In contrast, she said, “Ten years ago “The Southwest Florida Community outcomes,” she said. “When you see Of particular concern to area resi- people thought that it would be costly, Foundation is committed to cultivating something have a crosscutting effect dents were mangroves and wetlands. expensive and hurt the economy (to ad- a more sustainable region alongside our like that, it makes you want to learn An “overwhelming majority,” Moher dress climate change).” public, private and nonprofit partners,” more about it.” said — 93 percent — say governments These attitudes appear to dovetail Southwest Florida Community Founda- There should be myriad opportuni- should do more to protect mangroves with new Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tion president and CEO Sarah Owen ties for partnership going forward as and wetlands.

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