NORTH PORT – Six days of early voting in the May 13 city of North Port special election that features five referendum questions begin at 8:30 a.m. “In-person early voting is one of the most convenient ways to vote,” Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said in a prepared statement noting that the six early voting days include Saturday "If you like to vote in person but are unable to vote on election day People wanting to cast an early vote in person can do so between 8:30 a.m from May 5 through May 10 at the North Port elections office in Biscayne Plaza Sample ballots were mailed to voter households in April and are available online by accessing the Sample Ballot tool at https://www.SarasotaVotes.gov An information webpage at NorthPortFL.gov/Referendum includes the ballot language for all five referendum questions and more details This special election was scheduled after North Port voters last November narrowly rejected a charter change that would have allowed the city to borrow for both emergencies and for projects paid for by bonds that don't have to be paid back by property taxes. North Port is the only known municipality in Florida that does not have the ability to borrow in such cases without first getting voter approval Florida TaxWatch, a statewide taxpayer research institute, released a guide for the referendum. The guide can be downloaded from https://www.floridataxwatch.org from a link at this page: https://bit.ly/3EguB9E The ballot initiative has drawn criticism from the Argus Foundation – a nonprofit business membership-based think tank and government watchdog – because it was scheduled so soon after last November's vote and not on the traditional cycle that is either topped by a presidential or governor's race City commissioners are also contemplating a property tax rate reduction for the 2025-26 budget year that would collect about $3 million less than the current rate For more information or assistance on the voting process, call the elections office at 941-861-8619 or visit https://www.SarasotaVotes.gov 2025 at 1:24 PM EDT|Updated: 19 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH PORT (WWSB) - The City of North Port is announcing that its Public Works department completed a large-scale debris removal project along Myakkahatchee Creek It’s a vital part of the city’s stormwater management system Using grant from National Resources Conservation Services the city has improved the creek’s capacity to manage the stormwater and to protect communities from flooding crews removed nearly 7,000 cubic yards of debris left by Hurricane Ian from 3.83 miles of waterway An additional 3,600 cubic yards of yard waste were cleared by cutting back invasive vegetation on both sides of the creek With a total cost of approximately $3.45 million the project received about $2.76 million in grant funding from the NRCS The City contracted an engineering firm to map and categorize 193 blockages ensuring that the most critical obstructions were addressed first Head to the George Mullen Activity Center to try your hand at archery NORTH PORT — North Port Parks and Recreation is inviting the community to celebrate Kids to Parks Day on May 17 The event is a nationwide one that encourages families to explore local parks Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account PRLeap is a press release distribution service© 2020   A voter walks out after casting a ballot while dozens of people await their turn at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office in North Port in October The city of North Port has a special election set for May 13 with early voting taking place May 5-10 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m NORTH PORT — Early voting in the North Port Special Election starts Monday North Port residents can opt to vote in-person early between today and Friday at the North Port Elections Office Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines — North Port Police have arrested a man they say was taking photos under the dress of a woman shopping at Hobby Lobby a witness said they saw the strange behavior of the suspect police say he denied the allegations and left the store Police want to ensure there are no more victims and ask people to contact the North Port Police Department if they've experienced a similar incident Woodsy North Port has seen its share of wildfires the city is modifying the trace amounts of chlorine in its drinking water to harmlessly clean and disinfect the piping Because the region’s drinking water pipes are one interconnected system it’s something every municipality needs to do every couple of years Think of Southwest Florida’s drinking water distribution system as an intrastate freeway system Various government agencies are largely responsible for maintaining the roads that run through their boundaries so people can drive on decent streets from a major city to a campground 50 miles away Southwest Florida’s drinking water system doesn’t recognize municipal boundaries The pipes carrying clean water flow in from reservoirs and out through increasingly smaller pipes until the clean water pours from your tap far away from the reservoir Just like municipalities must keep the roads in repair so must they keep the inside of the drinking water pipes clean and free of harmful stuff Lee and Sarasota counties did the same not long ago Water customers will be able to tell when the disinfecting is underway due to several tell-tale signs the water may give off a slight bleach-like odor leaving some to wonder if the water is truly safe to drink Anything used in the process is a food-grade additive A bleach-like smell,” said Michael Drennan It’s just because of the type of disinfectant that we're using.” North Port water customers on kidney dialysis need to talk with their physicians if they have any questions on the correct filters to handle the temporary chemical changes in the water Customers using the water for aquariums should monitor the chlorine levels so aquatic critters don’t die Dirt and other foul matter are often dislodged during the process so clothes can come out of the washer dirtier than when they went in leaving some to wonder how that type of water can be safe to ingest but mustard also stains your clothes,” Drennan said “Just because it stains your clothes doesn't necessarily mean that it's not safe to consume.” open a tap and let the water flow until it’s clear Then add fresh detergent and wash the clothes again a non-profit with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions Sign up for WGCU's monthly environmental newsletter, the Green Flash WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida and your support is more critical than ever A southwest Florida woman won a $1 million lottery prize after buying a scratch-off ticket at a Circle K convenience store The winner, 67-year-old Gail Riola of North Port, bought a ticket at a Circle K in Port Charlotte, opting to play the 500X the cash scratch-off game for $50 She walked away with a $1 million prize, or $640,000 after fees were taken out. The store where Riola bought her winning ticket also won a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket Lottery: Did anyone win the Mega Millions jackpot? See the winning numbers for the April 29 drawing The 500X cash scratch-off game was first launched in early 2024 players must match their numbers or bonus numbers to any winning number What’s the top prize?The top prize for the $50 500X scratch-off game is $25 million the largest amount ever up for grabs on a Florida scratch-off game Players have a 1 in 4.23 chance of winning the game Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team NORTH PORT – McDowell Housing Partners completed construction of the first phase of Ekos at Arbor Park, a 136-unit affordable apartment community for residents age 55 and older. The $40 million complex at 1320 Citizens Parkway includes 76 one-bedroom and 60-two bedroom apartments available to people making 20% to 70% of the Area Median Income Rents are anticipated to be between $330 and $1,235 a month for one-bedroom units and $385 and $1,471 for two-bedroom units “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the completion of the first phase of Ekos at Arbor Park It’s an incredibly well appointed and managed community with rent levels that are far lower than anywhere else in North Port and Sarasota County,” Chris Shear Ekos at Arbor Park Phase I is accepting applications at https://www.ekosarborpark.com The Miami-based company first proposed the 55-and-older community in 2020 and received funding in 2021 The complex is just west of The Shoppes at Price Crossing the Publix-anchored shopping center at the intersection of Price and Toledo Blade boulevards Amenities include a clubhouse with a multipurpose social/community room media center and outdoor grills on the lanai overlooking the resort-style pool Forum Architecture and Interior Design served as the architect and MHP-Hennessy Construction a joint venture between MHP Builders and Hennesy Construction Services was the general contractor The apartments range in size from 700 square feet to 946 square feet Each apartment offers kitchens incorporating energy efficient appliances granite countertops with tile back-splashes Residents can also participate in numerous service programs including quarterly financial planning courses Last winter, North Port city leaders cleared the way for construction of 66 affordable apartments and approved changes to the development master plan for Ekos at Arbor Park II on the southeast corner of Price Boulevard and Citizens Parkway The change allows for construction of three three-story buildings and 7,779 square feet of commercial space on about 4.4 acres Shear noted that McDowell Housing Partners is close to securing the property for those homes “We remain dedicated to addressing the housing crisis in Sarasota County as we advance toward the closing of the land adjacent to Phase 1 where Ekos Arbor Park Phase II will be built providing an additional 66 high-quality affordable apartments to families and individuals of all ages,” he  added The community was funded through 4% tax credits purchased by Wells Fargo Freddie Mac permanent senior debt and subordinate loans from Florida Housing Finance Corporation who along with his son Jackson Boone represented McDowell Housing Partners stressed that the new units will benefit residents who earn less than the area median “What we're proposing here is real affordable housing,” Boone said The current proposal calls for 12 units to be available to households that earn up to 30% AMI which would mean $21,150 for an individual and $31,200 for a family of four; 18 units to rent to households that earn up to 60% of AMI; and 36 units would be rented to those earning up to 70% AMI 2025 at 3:42 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH PORT (WWSB) - Police have arrested a man they say was trying to secretly take photos up the skirt of a woman at a North Port Hobby Lobby store North Port Police charged 23-year-old Cameron Carpenter with video voyeurism Police received a report of an incident at Hobby Lobby where an unidentified male was seen using his cell phone to secretly take photos up the dress of an unsuspecting female shopper the suspect denied the allegations and quickly left the store Detectives reviewed store surveillance footage which captured the incident He was taken into custody and booked into the Sarasota County Jail Tuesday Police say if anyone has experienced a similar incident please contact the North Port Police Department at 941-429-7300 Your local Walmart might look a little different by the end of the year Three Walmarts in the Sarasota-Bradenton area are getting a facelift as part of the company’s “store of the future” campaign. The initiative will remodel 650 stores across 47 states and Puerto Rico, including 34 in Florida These Walmarts in the region will undergo renovations: The remodel involves a new aesthetic look with big According to Walmart's director of local communications and the store won't close during renovations “The new stores will offer Walmart’s every day low prices and save customers time with convenient pickup and delivery options Each new Neighborhood Market will create approximately 100 new jobs and are currently scheduled to open later this year,” Walmart said in a release More: Economic uncertainty following tariffs could change Sarasota, Manatee real estate market Departments will be expanded with more product selections and new layouts to give shoppers (and employees) more room to move around a new private screening room and privacy checkout areas Each store's capacity for online pickups and deliveries will also be increased Walmart has already invested more than $1.6 billion during the past five years to upgrade stores in Florida, the company said. Earlier this year Walmart announced that one of the first locations nationwide to open under the new concept is a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Rosa Beach All stores set for remodeling could start construction and be finished by the end of the year Walmart said it can't guarantee completion dates because the projects are subject to change based on construction schedules and other factors Bradenton and North Port have 11 total Walmarts Find the full list of Florida stores here Contact Herald-Tribune Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com The City of North Port terminated HR Manager Deborah Hope on April 12 NORTH PORT — After an independent investigation the city of North Port terminated Human Resources manager Deborah Hope a law firm that helps employers address workplace issues submitted a 60-page investigative report to the city about incidents in the department North Port retained the independent investigator on Dec 2025 at 10:45 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPORT CHARLOTTE (WWSB) - A Sarasota County man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a knife attack at a Port Charlotte supermarket Jammacar Rodkesh Gayle was sentenced for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon or Great Bodily Harm and will have to serve 3 years of probation after he gets out The victim was in the store shopping near a butcher’s counter The defendant’s girlfriend was using foul language The victim then left the counter with half of her order The defendant grabbed a frying pan that was for sale and carried it back towards the victim but one of his children took it out of his hand Gayle then picked up a knife and slashed the woman four times in the stomach He fled the store and left behind his girlfriend and kids to try to get a photo of the defendant’s license plate The defendant still had the knife and continued to threaten the victim The victim went back in the store and Good Samaritans tried to help stop the bleeding until emergency workers arrived She was then med-flighted to a trauma center in Lee County for life saving treatment He put his bloody clothes into a trash bag and then drove to New York The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office used surveillance video to identify the make and model of the suspect’s car and were able to utilize license plate readers in the area to pinpoint his residence and learn his identity The North Port Police Department joined the investigation A search warrant was served at the defendant’s residence The clothes worn during the attack and the knife were found in the trash A warrant was issued for his arrest and the defendant was located in Queens Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH PORT (WWSB) - Three people were arrested after shots were fired in the parking lot of a North Port apartment complex Saturday Police spokesman Josh Taylor said officers were called to the Flats at Sundown Apartments around 4 p.m officers found spent shell casings in the parking lot near the swimming pool police were alerted to an abandoned vehicle in a Jiffy Lube on Toledo Blade Boulevard The vehicle had visible bullet holes and was leaking fuel Witnesses reported seeing several people fleeing the area Police took two of the suspects into custody at the Burger King on Toledo Blade near Price Boulevard A third suspect was found after being picked up and dropped off at the McDonald’s at Price and Sumter Boulevard Taylor said it appears that two groups arrived at the apartment complex in separate vehicles and evidence consistent with liquid narcotics was recovered at the Burger King Two suspects were charged with trafficking oxycodone The third suspect had an outstanding arrest warrant in Pinellas County and was also booked into jail despite several bystanders being at the apartment complex pool during the incident Anyone who was present at the pool during the incident is asked to contact North Port Police at 941-429-7300 North Port Kiwanis held its annual Quarter Auction to raise money for the 2026 Project Graduation Attendees at the Kiwanis event were told to bring rolls of quarters which they placed one or two of in a bucket for each item All funds raised went to Project Graduation NORTH PORT — Organizers for this year’s North Port High School Project Graduation are asking the community for support A team of volunteer organizers are accepting monetary prize and food donations for the upcoming party that 250 graduates will attend Less than two weeks after a Sarasota County man claimed a $25 million jackpot in the 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game a North Port woman scratched her way to one of the game's $1 million prizes bought her winning ticket at the Circle K at 41 Tamiami Tr in Port Charlotte and claimed her prize at the Lottery’s Orlando District Office on April 29 Riola chose to receive a one-time payment of $640,000 Circle K received $2,000 for selling the winning ticket On April 18, Kyle Lindquist, 45, of Venice, claimed the largest jackpot ever offered on a Florida Lottery scratch-off game Lindquist purchased his $25 million 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game ticket at a Circle K store in Venice He opted for a lump-sum payment of $16 million Manatee County lottery winner: $1 million scratch-off lottery ticket sold at Bradenton Circle K. Who won? Florida Lottery winners can't remain anonymous Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide the winner's name date and amount won to any third party who requests the information Florida Lottery winners' home addresses and telephone numbers are confidential Match any of your numbers or any of the bonus numbers to any winning number to win prize shown for that number 100 or 500 times the prize shown for that symbol Get a "star" symbol and win double all 40 prizes "Our games are designed to be a fun form of entertainment, with the added benefit of helping fund Florida education. While most of our players enjoy the excitement of playing, we recognize that gaming can create problems for some individuals. We are committed to supporting those players as well," Florida Lottery advises on its website The lottery shared the following tips for playing responsibly: — The North Port Police Department is using the power of technology in their real time intelligence center (RTC) to get to emergencies faster They can do this by seeing what's happening through camera feeds "It's really kind of born in that post 911 era where one of the big the faults there was not sharing information among agencies," said North Port Police Commander William Myers "We leverage technology to more efficiently solve crimes and conduct public safety." North Port Community Correspondent Victoria Quevedo takes you inside the Real time Intelligence Center: That technology is used to connect with businesses Business owners can give permission to the department to their surveillance video feeds the RTC is able to see what's going on in real time before the officers even get there Business owner Mike Morales says giving the department access to his businesses video feed is beneficial "It helps the police department respond in the appropriate manner as they can see what's going on if something happens," he said "They can pull the camera up at the location and feed that real time intelligence to that responding officer." Commander Myers says the main benefit the RTC provides is efficiency Crime trend data can be pulled so that officers can be placed in a more strategic manner "Utilizing data and these platforms so we can make a better more informed more efficient decision" Both police and business owners say this is for the protection and the safety of the public If you want to register your cameras, you can go to https://connectnorthport.org/ (WWSB) - North Port Police say they’ve seized more than two pounds of methamphetamine and 10 grams of fentanyl during a recent search of a house The department’s Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at a home on Rice Terrace Officers found more than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine along with 10 grams of fentanyl Sanchez was arrested on multiple narcotics-related crimes to include: Last year was an especially tough one for the members of AFSCME Local 3432 Situated on the Gulf Coast between Sarasota and Fort Myers North Port was pummeled by Hurricane Helene even as many in the community were still recovering from Hurricane Ian traffic control technicians and others – were required to hold a recertification election job due to the radically anti-union law SB256 They helped their community survive in the wake of Helene And they overwhelmingly won their recertification election in July with more than 76% voting AFSCME “Yes,” protecting their voice and the services they deliver 99% of Local 3432 members voted in favor of ratifying an incredibly strong traps or misdirection will stop us from continuing to build our union bargain a contract that we deserve and deliver the services that the taxpayers visitors and business deserve,” said Tammy Bennet stayed united and won time and time again this past year The revitalized labor movement in Florida will have a powerful presence along the Gulf Coast includes improvements to the uniform allowance and will improve how employees can use their comp time With a pay increase of 21% over the life of the contract it also helps the workers address an increased cost of living in their area and make positions more attractive to new employees “We’ve been fighting and we’ve been winning and that has been seen by our co-workers across the city,” said Bennet “We’ve been signing up new members nearly every week and now we can get back to our campaign to reach the 60% membership threshold needed in 2025 to make sure this contract is not at any risk.” (WWSB) - North port police said that they responded to a shooting at 4:00p.m The incident happened near Toledo Blade Blvd The suspects are detained and there are no reported injuries We will provide updates to this story here on mysuncoast.com NORTH PORT – The North Port City Commission finalized five questions for voters for a May 13 special election including two city charter changes and three seeking permission to finance new projects – the largest of which is a proposed new headquarters for North Port Police Residents will be able to ask questions about the special election and the referendum questions at three town halls: Feb 24 at the Morgan Family Community Center; April 2 at the North Port Public Safety Building in Wellen Park; and April 24 at Suncoast Technical College Why is the special election being held?This special election was scheduled after North Port voters last November narrowly rejected a charter change that would have allowed the city to borrow for both emergencies and for projects paid for by bonds that don't have to be paid back by property taxes. General Development Corp. created that provision 65 years ago, when the city was incorporated as North Port Charlotte in 1959 The special election would cost North Port $131,000 What are the five questions on the ballot?Voters will be asked to grant the city permission to issue debt after an emergency or disaster A “yes,” vote would allow North Port to participate in low and no-interest loan programs and borrow money to remove debris or repair or rebuild public infrastructure or facilities damaged as a result of an emergency or disaster The debt could only be repaid from identified revenue streams not property taxes.Voters are being asked to allow the City Clerk and City Attorney to live outside of North Port City Limits A “yes” vote would remove that requirement and create more interest in the position.Another question asks voters to approve the sale of up to $115 million in general obligation bonds to pay for a new Police Department building City research indicates that the average homeowner with an assessed property value of $246,400 would see an initial property tax increase of $121.38 for a year That cost would decrease through the life of the bonds as it is spread out among more residents moving to North Port the city says.Voters will also be asked to approve borrowing to build a solid waste transfer station for the eastern part of the city The transfer station increases efficiency and reduces trips to the landfill and fuel costs A “yes” vote would let the city sell up to $14 million in bonds that would be paid for from solid waste revenues.Another question asks voters to approve the sale of $17 million in bonds to build a new 30-inch pipeline from the wastewater treatment facility that would transport reclaimed water to a deep injection well for storage The bonds would be paid back from water and sewer utility revenues.When will voting be held?The deadline to register to vote in this special election is Monday at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office Those wanting to vote by mail must also request a new vote-by-mail ballot by 5 p.m. Those ballots can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m May 5-10  at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza In-person early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m at the North Port Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza For more information, visit sarasotavotes.gov/Next-Election MINOT — I don't think North Dakota is a MAGA state You may be inclined to rebut me by pointing out that the Donald Trump/JD Vance ticket got nearly 67% of the vote in November more than doubling the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz vote total North Dakota's voters may have chosen Trump/Vance when the alternative was Harris/Walz but they also don't want their state governed by culture warriors taking their cues from whatever MAGA influencers are buzzing about on social media at any given moment Consider that most of the culture war bills were soundly defeated this legislative session Despite all the "we the people" chest thumping you may see from online friends with weird Trump fetishes (observing self-styled manly men use overtly homoerotic avatars showing Trump's head photoshopped onto a young North Dakota's electorate seems to prefer something more moderate in their leadership Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInARASOTA (WWSB) - There is a rollover accident involving a semi truck in the southbound lanes of I-75 This is at mile marker 174 near Toledo Blade and King’s Highway North Port Fire Rescue is asking drivers to find an alternate route The Florida Highway Patrol stated that two vehicle were involved A crane was southbound on the outside lane approaching the overpass for Berkshire Street An empty tractor trailer hauling a flatbed trailer was i the outside lane approaching the same overpass The tractor trailer had its hazard lights on and were on a uphill grade FHP says the crane operate failed to reduce its speed and rear-ended the trailer causing it to overturn another vehicle collided with crash debris Emergency crews and FHP continue to work on removing the vehicles from the roadway This is affecting all southbound lanes in the area human remains were discovered in North Port prompting a search that uncovered a nearly complete skeleton without its skull The remains belonged to a 30-50-year-old male The skull showed a healed fracture to the left nasal bone indicating that he had a broken nose when he was alive which further complicated efforts to identify him Investigators believe the condition of his teeth and the absence of personal items or clothing indicate that the man may have been homeless or transient there was speculation that the man may have been a victim of David Conahan a convicted killer suspected of being a serial killer who murdered men in the area in the 1990's the FBI released a forensic drawing of what the man may have looked like and said early DNA testing suggested he was a descendant of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe of Virginia Despite nearly three decades of investigation the identity of this individual remains unknown and he became known as Sarasota County John Doe Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) case ID UP60596 In 2024, the North Port Police Department and the District 12 Medical Examiner's Office teamed with Othram to to determine if advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy analysis could help to finally identify the man. Individuals interested in assisting the North Port Police Department in bringing resolution to this case can reach out to Sgt. Scott Smith of the North Point PD at 941-429-7300 for more information A DNASolves crowdfund has been launched to raise the necessary funds for the cost to of the casework. Additionally, you can also help solving cases like this unidentified person case by contributing your own DNA profile here — North Port fire and Florida Forest Service crews are currently on the scene of a brush fire off of Town Terrace near South Cranberry Boulevard No structures or homes are threatened.The cause of the fire is undetermined detailing what happened in the carjacking and sexual assault case in Charlotte County at a gas station the victim said she left work at around 2:30 a.m The woman was in the turn lane at Sumter Boulevard and Tamiami Trail with she says a man She says her window was down as she was playing music The report says she declined to give him a ride several times That's when she says Martin became angry and she threatened to call police Documents say Martin reached into the window grabbed her arm and steering wheel while yelling things the victim said she couldn't understand The woman told police he walked around the front of the car and got in the passenger seat and told her to drive "The victim noted that she wanted to drive away but was in fear that she might strike him with the vehicle causing her to be arrested," she told police in the report she told police she tried to disobey Martin's directions but then said he grabbed the steering wheel and threatened to kill her the report says they were in a secluded area where Martin sexually assaulted her The victim told police she "sweet talked" him into going to the RaceTrac in North Port for food the report says she went inside alone and told the cashier what happened Police were called and met with the victim She told them she does not know Martin and didn't know his name The vehicle was at the gas pump and police were able to detain Martin for questioning before ultimately arresting him for several charges He is facing several charges in North Port including false imprisonment burglary of an occupied conveyance and carjacking Because the alleged assault took place outside of the city limits they contacted the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to investigate that portion of the crime has a lengthy criminal history and bonded out of jail days before the alleged crime According to Charlotte County court records 2025 for felony battery on a "Emergency Medical Care Provider" at Fawcett Hospital A judge issued a $5,000 bond and he bonded out of jail on March 30 Those same records show he could not be screened to see if he was eligible for a public defender because he was disorderly Martin has faced several charges in Miami-Dade County since 2014 including several battery cases Fox 4 has requested more information and reports about the carjacking and sexual assault case Records show is in the Sarasota County Jail on a hold for Charlotte County North Port Police have arrested and identified the suspect in a carjacking and sexual assault at a gas station as 26-year-old Jorge Daniel Martin from Port Charlotte.Martin has been charged with False Imprisonment Original:The North Port Police Department is investigating a carjacking and sexual assault that happened at 18999 Tamiami Trail Thursday morning Investigators say a 911 call was made at the RaceTrac at 2:30 a.m North Port Community Correspondent Victoria Quevedo explains how it all started North Port PD says the victim was carjacked near the intersection of Sumter Boulevard and US-41 Police say the attacker approached the driver and got in the car through the passenger's side The attacker forced the driver to go to Port Charlotte where he sexually assaulted the driver Become a Website Subscriber    Read E-Edition 941.964.2995 or 800.749.2995 Privacy Policy Copyright © document.currentScript.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', '' + new Intl.DateTimeFormat(document.documentElement.lang, {year: 'numeric'}).format() + ''); Sandpaper Marketing. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy A 26-year-old North Port man was arrested Thursday for homicide after shooting his friend several times following an argument In case you missed it: Manatee County man arrested in Colorado, faces murder charges in Bradenton home burglary North Port Police Public Information Officer Josh Taylor said that the two men were friends The victim had stayed the night with Reinel a few times Witnesses said they heard arguing followed by four or five gunshots A woman who was at the residence during the shooting told officers that Reinel had been upset with her and Lucas for being loud “Don’t point that at me if you’re not going to use it," followed by gunshots shortly after You hit me.” Lucas told NPFR that he was shot with a .38 Reinel was booked into the Sarasota County Jail on Friday morning and is being held without bond "Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss," said North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison "Every life taken by violence is one too many and our department is committed to seeking justice." A former North Port police officer was awarded $4.4 million after a jury found he was wrongfully terminated in November 2021 who had been with the North Port Police Department since October 2008 sued the city of North Port in 2022 after he was allegedly fired for being a “whistleblower,” according to his complaint Richter's complaint states that “despite his stellar work performance” he was subjected to disparate treatment In Sarasota County: Sarasota law enforcement 'actively monitoring' for drag racing after rise in complaints In case you missed it: North Port schedules 3 town hall meetings for voters to learn about May special election Richter alleged in his complaint that he attempted to report "improper actions" by his supervisor to North Port Police Department leadership including the chief and deputy chief in 2020 The jury found Richter should be awarded a combined $3.5 million for emotional pain and mental anguish suffered because of the termination as well as $909,000 for lost wages and benefits A North Port Police Department spokesperson provided a statement from the city and department acknowledging the jury's decision we disagree with the jury’s decision and are currently reviewing the ruling to determine our next steps," the statement said "The City firmly denies any wrongdoing in this case That is one of the reasons why we chose to defend against these accusations in court and continue to stand by the actions taken to support the best interests of NPPD The statement noted that the city has insurance policies in place to address any potential legal outcomes as the process continues to be ongoing "We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism always striving to do what is right," the statement continued we have no further comment as we evaluate options for appeal." Multiple attempts to reach Richter's attorney for comment about the verdict and case were unsuccessful Why was Jason Ritcher fired from the department?The series of events which led to Richter’s termination stemmed from a disciplinary action — or lack thereof — in October 2020 A mother of an overdose victim filed a complaint alleging a detective on the case failed to properly search the victim’s backpack and cell phone and lied about being unable to access the phone It was later found there had been fentanyl in the backpack who was above Richter in the chain of command was notified by a sergeant about the need for disciplinary action Before Richter and the sergeant could decide on what they’d recommend Baute requested the detective only receive counseling The complaint alleges that Baute often gave this detective preferential treatment because of his romantic interest in her which was one of the causes for dissent within the criminal investigations division “Other issues concerning the unit included Baute’s tendency to misrepresent conversations and promote disobedience,” the complaint states another sergeant requested a meeting with Deputy Chief Chris Morales Despite the deputy chief’s open-door policy it's alleged Baute asserted the sergeant had violated the chain of command This led to Richter reporting “Baute’s management-created issues to include his own chain of command violations Baute then met with Chief Todd Garrison and Morales the complaint states he told Richter that if either he or the sergeants met with the chief and deputy chief to report Baute’s conduct More: New Netflix series focuses on Gabby Petito's murder. Here's what to know More: Bradenton attorney honored for pro bono services helping families with guardianship court The two sergeants backed down from having a meeting Baute then initiated a meeting with Richter who agreed with the sergeants that Baute’s handling of the situation “was unethical and impermissible.” The complaint states the meeting was the first protected whistleblower disclosure by Richter “Plaintiff understood Baute’s statements during the meeting to be a threat to his employment in order to intimidate him into not reporting Baute’s conduct,” the complaint states Richter was placed on the patrol division without notice or prior consultation from Garrison or Morales He then requested a voluntary demotion to sergeant an internal affairs investigation was started into Baute after additional reports from others in the criminal investigation division arose The detective on the case was instructed to gather the names of people who had any issues with Baute The detective approached Richter who notified them that a crime scene supervisor had reported being subjected to a hostile work environment by Baute The supervisor told Richter “she was fearful of reporting Baute’s hostile behaviors because she knew she would be retaliated against and fired as it was well known within the workplace that Garrison and Captain of Internal Affairs Byran Gregory (“Gregory”) were very close friends.” It’s alleged that the deputy chief intentionally buried the investigation into Baute never interviewing the supervisor or Richter Richter then met with human resources in January 2021 to report Baute’s unethical behavior He was asked if he’d give an official report in writing but Richter was worried of being fired given the close relationship between the chief Richter finally met with the chief twice in February 2021 he was stopped from fully reporting Baute’s behavior and was told to wait to be interviewed during the internal investigation The complaint states he was never interviewed The complaint adds that as part of Richter’s termination he was accused of being at fault for the internal affairs detective failing to follow up with or conduct his own investigation interviewed twice when an internal affairs investigation was opened into the sergeant who supervised the detective in the overdose case who failed to properly search the victim’s backpack The investigation was initiated on grounds of insubordination for his delay in providing the detective with a memo of counseling Richter was told he was under investigation on charges of “Conduct Unbecoming Following the conclusion of the investigations The complaint states his firing was in retaliation for his multiple protected whistleblower activities Baute is no longer with the North Port Police Department having taken a private sector job in the late summer of 2021 according to a North Port Police Department spokesperson He is technically a volunteer reserve officer for the department (This story was updated to correct a misspelling.) NORTH PORT – North Port City commissioners are poised to set up a special election for May 13 to again ask the community give the city permission to borrow money, this time for emergencies or to pay for select projects.  The commission opted for a piecemeal process after North Port voters last November narrowly rejected a charter change that would have allowed the city to borrow for both emergencies and for projects paid for by bonds that don't have to be paid back by property taxes. Charter amendment allowing for emergency borrowingCommissioners are set for a final vote to set a referendum asking voters to authorize issuing debt in response to an emergency or disaster without voter approval Current restrictions prevented North Port from participating in some state or federal low-interest loan programs following Hurricane Ian Mayor Phil Stokes noted that the language in the ordinance specifically states that the funds would be used for emergency services such as debris removal and repairing or reconstructing public infrastructure or capital facilities damaged in the disaster Many critics of that November referendum question – including newly elected city commissioners David Duval and Demetrius Petrow – favored the emergency borrowing provision but not a second issue that would have lifted the requirement for voter approval to issue bonds backed by special district fees A preliminary vote to set the referendum for the emergency borrowing provision passed unanimously on Jan City voters would also be asked in the May special election to approve a bonds to be repaid through a dedicated property tax that would generate about $115 million to help pay for a new police station and is projected to meet North Port's needs through 2065 The current North Port property tax rate is 3.7667 mills The owner of a typical house with an assessed value of $246.400 an additional 0.618 mills would be assessed which would increase that overall tax bill by $121.38 annually Funding for a solid waste transfer stationAnother referendum question – one that does not involve property taxes – would allow the city to issue bonds backed by solid waste fees to build a new solid waste transfer station to serve the fast growing eastern part of the city The city has about $2.5 million available for the project and needs an additional $12.5 million which would be financed through revenue bonds backed by user fees already set aside to save up for a pay-as-you-go funding process Voters will also be asked to approve the use of water and sewer fees to pay for two separate projects The first is a $3.4 million master pumping station and force main to serve water needs for growth in the Toledo Blade and Price Boulevard area The cost would be financed with a goal of starting construction in the 2027-28 fiscal year The city also needs to borrow $15 million to pay for construction of a wastewater pumping station and corresponding pipeline It currently has only $1 million of the projected $16 million project cost That project is needed both for growth and to deal with existing wastewater transport needs during wet weather events as flow already exceeds capacity during those storms One referendum question also expected to be included on the special election ballot doesn't deal with money Commissioners are expected to ask voters to to rewrite the city charter to remove residency requirements for the city clerk and city attorney position 2025 at 10:19 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH PORT (WWSB) - North Port officials confirm that a police officer was involved in a crash Wednesday night at the intersection at Toledo Blade and Hillsborough Blvd The officer was running code with lights and sirens to a call The officer did slow down at the intersection before passing through Other cars did have the green light and slowed but one driver passed through and collided with the side of the officer’s cruiser The officer was transported by the North Port Fire Department with minor injuries The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured 2025 at 9:04 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH PORT (WWSB) - Police in North Port confirm that a man was found dead near a bus stop Police responded to an area near Pan American and U.S 41 around 9:30 this morning for a death investigation The man is known to frequent the area and was experiencing homelessness and had serious health issues It is not believed to be a death as a result of recent cold weather The medical examiner will ultimately determine NORTH PORT – The city of North Port is preparing for a May 13 special election that could have four questions for voters including whether to borrow money for some major projects Two questions involve the city's borrowing authority and whether the city attorney and the clerk could live outside North Port Other questions may involve borrowing for specific water and sewer infrastructure projects and issuing a bond to pay for a new North Port Police station which would be repaid through property taxes City commissioners discussed the possible questions at a Jan 6 workshop and can vote on what they'll ask at a Jan Former Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson raised concern about the potential for lower voter turnout during special elections The Argus Foundation was part of “Change the Date Sarasota,” a group that supported a 2018 referendum to change the date for Sarasota City Commission races to coincide with county It also supported a city of Venice referendum to eliminate odd-year elections and extend council member terms from three years to four.’ Mayor Phil Stokes stressed that it would be the elected officials' responsibility to educate city voters on the need for the projects and encourage a large turnout Why is the city of North Port scheduling an off-year election?While the question that would remove residency requirements for the city attorney and city clerk coincides with the search for a new full-time city attorney the major push for the election is the need to finance several infrastructure projects City officials had hoped voters would approve a Nov 2024 referendum seeking to change North Port's charter to allow for borrowing after emergencies such as Hurricane Ian Current restrictions prevented North Port from participating in some state or federal low-interest loan programs or issue bonds that need to be repaid through special district fees without specific voter approval complicated post-hurricane recovery That charter change failed, with 50.3% of the 43,526 voters who participated in the election opposed. Pushback in public meetings suggested that city voters would approve the emergency borrowing provision but not the one allowing for specific project funding without voter approval That position was shared by two newly elected commissioners who voiced opposition to that November amendment The May referendum will ask for emergency borrowing authority as well as authority for projects that would be paid for out of solid waste fees or utility fees One May question would cover borrowing to pay for roughly $31 million in capital improvement projects including a $15 million solid waste transfer station for the eastern part of the city The city has about $2.5 million available and needs an additional $12.5 million which would be financed through revenue bonds backed by user fees already set aside to save up for a pay-as-you-go funding process Public Works Director Chuck Speake told the commission that without the transfer station the city would have to add more drivers and trucks and noted that with each truck traveling to the Sarasota County Landfill on Knights Trail Road “We’re losing two to three hours a day per truck.” Assistant City Manager Jason Yarborough said construction of a solid waste transfer station would “pay for itself,” since without it transportation costs would increase exponentially The city also needs to borrow money for two water and sewer related projects The first is a $3.4 million master pumping station and force main to serve water needs of growth in the Toledo Blade and Price Boulevard area That project is needed for growth and to deal with existing wastewater transport needs during wet weather events The current plan calls to borrow $115 million to build a new police station, which could be as large as 108,900 square feet, plus ancillary facilities and is projected to cover the city’s growth through 2065 An additional $5 million would come from the sale of the existing structure to the city’s building division and $10 million would come from state grants – though they're not guaranteed as state and federal officials typically look more favorably on “shovel ready” projects That tack would not redirect salex tax funding or require the sale of other city-owned properties – revenue teams that had been discussed in 2024 The current property tax rate for city property owners is 3.7667 mills which would increase that overall tax bill by $121.38 Should the city commission act on establishing the special election questions on Tuesday the corresponding ordinance would require two public hearings to be put on the special election ballot the city can host informational pages on its web site and employees can answer factual information about the proposed referendum They are prohibited from influencing voters Elected officials are not constrained by those laws and any of the five commissioners may host town hall meetings similar to what Stokes did prior to the Nov The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board on Tuesday approved a $450 million plan to build North Port’s first hospital 100-bed facility is slated for an undeveloped 32-acre parcel Sarasota Memorial Health Care System owns on North Sumter Boulevard near Interstate 75 It will be Sarasota Memorial’s third acute-care hospital and fulfills a longstanding request from the city to have a hospital of its own North Port is the largest city in Sarasota County and one of the fastest growing in the nation the board will review and update plans for another hospital slated for a 28-acre parcel on South Tamiami Trail in Wellen Park The plan approved Tuesday reflects the first phase of development 60,000-square-foot medical office building and backup energy center as well as diagnostic and outpatient services The adjacent office building will house primary and specialty physician practices “Building a hospital in North Port has been part of our strategic plan and goals for many years and I could not be more excited to break ground in 2025 during our centennial year,” Sarasota Memorial Health Care System president and CEO David Verinder said after the board’s vote “It has taken time to build the medical infrastructure necessary to support the city’s first hospital but we feel confident moving forward that we have the commitment and resources to ensure its success.” More than 70 physicians will be recruited for the North Port hospital followed by a groundbreaking ceremony later this year Hospital officials estimate it will take approximately 30 months to complete construction The North Port facility comes less than a year after Sarasota Memorial opened a new patient tower at its Venice hospital that campus opened an updated emergency department that more than doubles capacity for urgent care While recognizing the attendance of North Port Development Services Director Alaina Ray at the meeting “It’s not every day that somebody drops a check for $450 million in your office; I think it’s important that you came to receive it.” The 8-0 vote of approval – with board member Bridgette Fiorucci absent because of scheduling conflict – followed a unanimous recommendation made earlier Tuesday by the hospital board’s Mission and Planning Committee Sarasota Memorial Health Care System President & CEO David Verinder said and I could not be more excited to break ground in 2025 during our centennial year,” in a prepared statement released shortly after the vote but we feel confident moving forward that we have the commitment and resources to ensure its success,” he added SMH has been working with city staff and other regulatory agencies on parallel tracks to obtain initial approvals for both this 32-acre campus and a 28-acre tract the hospital owns at the intersection of West Villages Parkway and Tamiami Trail in Wellen Park SMH has long targeted a free-standing emergency room at the Wellen Park site with an eye toward developing a second hospital there This summer at its strategic planning session the hospital board will look at its plan for the Wellen Park expansion as well as the facility it opened in 2009 that houses both physicians offices and  a free-standing emergency room Meanwhile, Hospital Corporation of America Florida Englewood Hospital is anticipating opening an 11,300-square-foot freestanding emergency department on a 30-acre campus in Wellen Park as soon as March That HCA campus may someday expand into an acute care hospital as well Renderings are not yet available but the initial structures will be a hurricane-hardened 60,000-square-foot medical office building and back-up energy center The first floor of the hospital will include emergency administrative and support services; with surgical and procedure areas on the second floor The 100 private patient rooms will be on the third through fifth floors while the sixth floor will house the hospital’s mechanical infrastructure That 100-bed hospital could eventually be expanded to 208 beds SMH has already received approval from the city to build a 150-foot-tall facility at both the Sumter and Wellen Park campuses since the current plan is for the designs to be identical SMH would have to hire an additional 74 physicians When the new SMH-North Port opens in the fall of 2028 it will not be the first hospital in North Port That distinction goes to the 144-bed Acadia Healthcare North Port Behavioral Health. City officials helped cut the ribbon on that private behavioral health hospital on Jan The facility is estimated to employ 92 people with an average salary of approximately $67,000 North Port Behavioral Health will treat patients with depression The hospital is also collaborating with the city of North Port to provide 24/7 crisis counseling PTSD training and resources for first responders as North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher noted in a  prepared statement the decision to build its first hospital in the city at Sumter Boulevard is “a landmark step for North Port.” the quality health care so many North Port residents have desired for years is finally on its way to our community along with new career opportunities for our workforce,” he added “The city is committed to working with SMH through the development process to bring this project to life.” For future updates on the new hospital and health care facilities in North Port, visit: smh.com/NorthPortUpdates The North Port City Commission has given approval to an agreement with Kimley-Horn & Associates for professional design and engineering services to develop construction plans and documents for a new trailhead and trail connection from Warm Mineral Springs Park to the North Port Connector of the Legacy Trail Once fully realized it will be one of the longest continuous trails (420 miles) in Florida traversing seven counties from Pinellas County to Collier County The design phase is being funded by Park Impact Fees and a donation from Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Trust for Public Lands The project has received strong regional support from key organizations including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization has identified this trail connection as a priority project within the statewide Sun Trail network City staff from the Parks & Recreation Department and the Grants Division have submitted two construction grant applications to help fund the project: $450,000 through the federally funded Recreational Trails Program and $3.73 million through the state-funded Sun Trail Grant Program By completing the design phase and becoming shovel-ready the City significantly increases its eligibility for construction grant opportunities bringing North Port one step closer to expanding outdoor recreation and connectivity for residents and visitors alike To learn about visiting existing trails within and outside of the SUN Trail Network, click this link for their Online Trail Guide: https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/online-trail-guide WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now — The City of North Port could be the next Southwest Florida city to enter into an agreement with with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help enforce immigration laws The agreement allows police officers to assist federal immigration authorities through ICE’s 287(g) program Police officers would be selected and trained to interrogate suspected undocumented immigrants among other duties typically done by federal immigration agents Watch Fox 4's Alex Orenczuk report on North Port's stance on the ICE agreement: North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison told Fox 4 he supports the program and plans to bring it before the city commission for a vote “I support the agreement 100%,” said Garrison it does have to go in front of my city commission and the commission is going to have to vote on it.” The issue has sparked debate across Southwest Florida the Fort Myers City Council voted down the agreement in a 3-3 tie Punta Gorda’s City Council unanimously approved the agreement During a round table discussion on Thursday DeSantis said local governments must comply with state law regarding immigration enforcement “It's not a policy question at this point of whether they should be involved in it,” said DesSantis North Port Mayor Phil Stokes gave Fox 4 a brief statement saying “whatever the law is Garrison didn’t say exactly when he will bring the agreement to the city commission for a vote The next time that would be possible is at the next city commission meeting on April 4 NORTH PORT – Bay Pine VA Healthcare System plans to replace its current VA Clinic in Port Charlotte with a new one in North Port The new clinic location would be at the intersection of Price Boulevard and North Main Street in the Heron Creek Town Center near the The Gallery at North Port senior living complex “This new space will serve as a physical representation of VA’s commitment to meeting the health care needs of the Veterans who entrust us with their care,” Bay Pines VA Interim Director Dr “We’re elated to announce the procurement of a new state-of-the-art space that will support Veterans in Charlotte County and the surrounding communities for many years to come.” The VA Clinic will lease 28,016 square feet that is meant to serve more than 10,000 veterans who are treated annually in Port Charlotte Bay Pines spokeswoman Medina Ayala-Lo told the Herald-Tribune via email that once the new North Port clinic is opened Bay Pines already operates an outpatient clinic in Sarasota County at 5682 Bee Ridge Road The North Port location is less than 13 miles away from the current clinic located at 4161 Tamiami Trail There is no set timetable for construction of the new facility to begin North Port spokesman Jason Bartolone said via email Thursday that there has been no application for the project submitted to the city nor has there been a formal review of whether the use would be allowed in that portion of the city the additional space will enhance the ability for the VA to “offer the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model of care which emphasizes coordinated and patient-centered care for those we serve.” The number of PACT teams will grow from eight to nine The services that will be offered at the clinic include, but are not limited to, three mental health providers to augment the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) services that are already offered Related: Sarasota senior facility receives approval to provide free veterans assistance There will also be a 2,000-square-foot treatment space to care for unhoused veterans “This new space will allow us to streamline the manner in which we offer care,” Bay Pines VA Acting Deputy Director Justina Wells said in the same prepared statement “We’re confident that the new Port Charlotte VA Clinic will be a place where the Veterans we are so proud to serve can continue receiving the world-class health care they’ve earned.” NORTH PORT – Residents who want to shrink North Port's boundaries recently dropped their four-plus year-old civil lawsuit against former North Port City Commissioner Debbie McDowell, who listened in on an electronic meeting in March 2020 The residents discussed strategy on that call who was the city’s ceremonial mayor at that point obtained login information for the call but never identified herself to the rest of the group the attorney for the West Villagers in its efforts to separate from the city 28 decision to drop the suit came after Sarasota County Court Judge Shannon Hankin denied their motion to amend the civil complaint against McDowell to include punitive damages Hankins wrote that there was no evidence proffered for the record “that supports the Plaintiff's allegations that the Defendant knew the meeting was private,” or that she knew the login information she obtained from co-defendant Michael Wasylik was exclusively meant for Robert Baker “The Plaintiffs may may have taken roll or asked participants to identify themselves,” the judge later added “but they did nothing to alert an outsider to the fact that they expected their meeting to be limited only to certain individuals.” Because of Hankins’ decision to not grant punitive damages his clients decided to focus the West Villagers legal efforts on the push to separate from the city The lone legal case related to that effort is in the hands of the Second District Court of Appeal where the West Villagers hope the court will quash an October 2023 decision by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer who ruled against their attempt to force the City Commission to deannex land west of the Myakka River Appeal court has already ruled for city of North PortThe appellate court already ruled in favor of North Port on May 3, 2024 members of the three-judge panel of Stevan Northcutt Nelly Khouzam and Robert Morris asked for clarification as to why it had jurisdiction on the deannexation case after new state laws changed the municipal contraction process After that ruling Lirot and the West Villagers asked the appeal court for clarification and on June 27, the DCA allowed both sides to submit additional paperwork. The court has not issued an order based on the additional case filings The West Villagers for Responsible Government group wants the North Port city limits contracted to the Myakka River allowing Wellen Park and other properties west of the river to revert to unincorporated Sarasota County The movement started in 2020, as residents grew frustrated with how the City Commission managed North Port's budget taking issue with decisions such as the construction of the North Port Aquatic Center instead of using funds to upgrade and maintain infrastructure the person who gave the login information to McDowell was dismissed “with prejudice,” which means it cannot be filed again the residents must pay $2,104 to cover the court reporter and transcription fees When contacted by the Herald-Tribune about the ruling but on the advice of my attorney I have been requested to wait until the taxpayers receive the amount that the plaintiffs are required to pay to the city of North Port.” McDowell was represented by the law firm of Bryant Miller and Olive – the same firm that is representing the city in the contraction case North Port spokesman Jason Bartolone said via email that as of Dec North Port has spent $60,865 to its outside counsel for all legal fees and costs associated with the case involving McDowell Miller and Olive considerably more to defend its city limits The city engaged the firm for two separate court cases in which the developer of Wellen Park filed suit against both the city of North Port and the West Villagers for Responsible Government In the ongoing case with the West Villagers — An 88-year-old man killed his wife in North Port and they say he staged her death to look like a suicide The North Port Police Department reports that around 3 a.m officers were called to the 2700 block of Halladay Street in North Port said Miroslac called her and said his wife had shot and killed herself A police report says they could see 76-year-old Miljka Maksic's body through the window lying in a "supine position in a pool of blood." Officers say they found a .357 Magnum revolver in her left hand They say Miroslav was not home at the time the report says they found a towel above Mailjka's head as if someone tried to wipe up the blood and the report says he appeared to be in a state of confusion and his statement to detectives changed several times The 911 caller told detectives she and her husband were closed with the Maksic's since the 1980's She told police Mailjka never had any suicidal thoughts and had dinner with them the night of the killing Police asked the friend what Mailjka's dominant hand was Miroslav was interviewed by detectives through a Serbian interpreter but the police reported redacted that information citing it's an active investigation She suffered from two gunshot wounds: one in the cheek and the other in the back of her head The examiner noted the fatal bullet was found in Mailjka's hand — the same hand the gun was found in The medical examiner said this is "inconsistent with the path of the fatal projectile." They determined she could not have killed herself and ruled it a homicide "Several things weren't adding up," said Josh Taylor Chief of Staff and Public Information Officer for NPPD as the investigation continued it ultimately lead to to the arrest of the husband in this case." North Port Police arrested Miroslav for homicide He was booked into the Sarasota County Jail without bond on Monday night Miroslav's next door neighbor told Fox 4 that he was known as a friendly person like everything seemed really good he was a super sweet guy," said Hague Hague said he never would have expected Miroslav to be accused of murder "We were in shock because we would never expect like an older guy to throw it all away and kill his wife," said Hague this is the first homicide the department has investigated since September 2023.