Two vehicles racing on NE Pine Island Road caused a single-vehicle crash this weekend that resulted in the driver losing his arm. Major Crash Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.
Not actual vehicle, for visual purposes only
The synopsis of the crash:
DATE: September 11, 2021 at approximately 7:20 pm at 1100 NE Pine Island Road.
VEHICLE 1: 2016 blue Ford Mustang, Florida tag, driven by Ariel Gonzalez Rodon, H/M, 5-6-75, of Cape Coral. Rodon suffered life-threatening injuries, including one arm amputation.
PASSENGER: Rafael Perez Martinez, H/M, 9-16-88, of Cape Coral. Martinez suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash.
VEHICLE 2: Unknown year dark-colored Ford Mustang.
According to witnesses, Vehicle 1 was in the right lane of Pine Island Road, facing West, at the intersection of Del Prado Boulevard. Vehicle 2 was in the left lane directly next to Vehicle 1. Both vehicles were traveling West on NE Pine Island Road racing each other. Witnesses report that both vehicles were going in excess of 100 mph.
At the intersection of NE 10th Place, a vehicle traveled South across the intersection and Vehicle 1 swerved left to avoid it. While doing so at the high rate of speed, Vehicle 1 lost control, veered back right, and traveled off the North edge of the roadway. Vehicle 1 traveled 170 feet through the ditch and then exited out the other side where it became airborne. Vehicle 1 traveled 37 feet airborne and then began to roll violently for 185 feet before coming to rest on all four wheels.
A witness and an off-duty CCPD officer applied a tourniquet to one arm of the driver of Vehicle 1. Both occupants were trauma alerted by ambulance to Lee Memorial Hospital due to injuries.
At Lee Memorial Hospital, the driver of Vehicle 1 was rushed into emergency surgery where one arm was amputated. The driver of Vehicle 1 is listed in critical but stable condition. The driver of Vehicle 2 suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash.
It is unknown if alcohol/drugs are involved in this traffic crash. The next of kin has been notified.
This case is pending further investigation and potential criminal charges.
Three members of the Cape Coral Police Department’s command structure received advanced and prestigious training recently, bringing back a wealth of knowledge to our city.
Captain Dana Coston attended the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Executive Leadership Seminar in Daytona, FL.
The three-week course was held in three sessions spread over three months, focusing on succeeding through challenges with effective communication; managing organizations, flowing with change and preparing to head an organization; and becoming an effective leader through emotional intelligence and “servant leadership.”
Lieutenant Allan Kolak and Lieutenant Don Donakowski attended the Police Executives Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police in Orlando, a three-week course.
They were taught by professors from Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Johns Hopkins University, the University of Michigan and Boston College. The class also featured well-known guest speakers such as Ret. Chief Bill Bratton (NYPD and LAPD), Ret. Chief Charles Ramsey (Washington DC and Philadelphia), Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Ret. NYFD Fire Chief Joe Pfeifer.
The class was very intense, covering sensitive topics such as diversity in law enforcement, ethics, high liability, community policing, media relations and public speaking during critical times.
Please join us in congratulating Capt. Coston, Lt. Kolak and Lt. Donakowski for their achievements, which will reap rewards both for their professional careers and for the future of the Cape Coral Police Department.
Realtors, title companies and lot owners should be keenly aware of a current common scam involving illegally and fraudulently selling lots away from unknowing owners.
The Cape Coral Police Department has received numerous complaints of title fraud occurring or being attempted. The scam has shown that suspects are compromising the identities of the legitimate landowners and attempting to sell real property in Cape Coral. These reports have primarily affected victims living out of the country, but have also affected landowners living domestically. These scammers are providing fraudulent documents as identification to impersonate legitimate owners.
Many of the complaints have been related to vacant, unimproved lots located in various sections of the City.
Throughout the numerous investigations, our detectives have been able to develop similar trends in each of the listings and subsequent closing transactions.
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Here are some things Cape Coral Police Detectives recommend realtors and title companies look out for when being contacted to sell properties:
The scammers want a valuation of the property and express a desire for a quick sale and closing
The scammers are asking realtors to list the property below market value
The scammers are only communicating via text messaging or email, and are typically “unavailable” by telephone
The scammers are usually unable to answer questions related to the property, such as assessments paid, seawall, or other improvements.
Scammers may say they live in one country and have documents “notarized” from another country; the scammers may give wire instructions to an account in a third country different from the previous two
Check the documents the seller provides for authenticity
Foreign-based notarization should include Apostle to help verify legitimacy of identification
Try to contact the real owners utilizing information from the previous purchase
Verify IP addresses used to electronically sign documents (examples: DocuSign, DotLoop, or other similar products) and see if the IP address matches the location of the seller
If you have any questions or believe that you may have been scammed, please email our Financial Crimes Unit at ccpdfraud@capecoral.gov.
A single-vehicle major crash at the 3300 block of Del Prado Boulevard North resulted in the death of the driver. Major Crash Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.
The accident occurred on Friday, August 20, 2021, at 10:40 pm, and involved a Black 2007 Dodge Magnum SRT-8, Florida tag, driven by Jeremy J. Brendel, W/M, 1-14-1982, of Cape Coral. Brendel died from injuries sustained in the collision.
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 1 was traveling southbound on Del Prado Boulevard North, after leaving the Bella Vida community.
Vehicle 1 accelerated to a high rate of speed in the outside lane of travel as it entered the sweeping right-hand curve south of the community.
Vehicle 1 changed to the inside lane of travel, to pass witness 1’s vehicle, continuing at a high rate of speed.
Vehicle 1 moved back into the inside lane of travel near the exit of the curve.
Vehicle 1 applied heavy braking as it approached the 3000 block of Del Prado Boulevard N, to avoid colliding with another, unknown, vehicle driving in the inside lane of travel.
Vehicle 1, with locked wheels and weight still transferred to the driver-side, upon exit of the right-hand curve, began to rotate clockwise while still heading south.
Vehicle 1 exited the roadway, mounting the southbound sidewalk subsequently striking a large live oak tree directly on the driver’s door.
Driver of Vehicle 1 was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of impact.
Post impact, Driver 1 was ejected out of the driver seat and into the passenger seat.
An off-duty LCSO Deputy and witnesses attempted life-saving measures, however, the Driver of Vehicle 1 was declared deceased on scene.
Traffic Homicide was notified and arrived on scene. A Victim’s Advocate responded and notified next of kin.
No other vehicles were involved in the collision.
Speed IS a factor in this crash. It is currently unknown if this incident is DUI-related.
The Cape Coral Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is seeking assistance in a battery investigation that left the victim unresponsive.
On August 6th, 2021 at 2:45 a.m. officers responded to 808 Miramar Street regarding a man down in the parking lot. The man (later identified as Carlos Emilio Vargas-Osorio, H/M, DOB: 12-30-66) had sustained serious head and facial injuries and was unable to identify himself or provide any information as to what occurred.
Vargas-Osorio is currently still unresponsive and unable to provide any information as to what happened to him.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223.
A previously convicted felon received a three-year prison sentence based on a traffic stop conducted by CCPD Patrol officers in the summer of 2020.
On June 5th, 2020 at around 10:30 p.m., two CCPD Patrol officers riding together spotted a silver Toyota Camry with a headlight out at the 200 block of SE 8th Street. The officers conducted a traffic stop on the Camry, which turned into a driveway.
The driver opened his door as if to get out. As the officers walked up to the Camry, a man sitting in the open garage of the home told the officers he did not know who this driver was and that he did not belong at the home.
The officers made contact with the driver, Grady Irons III (B/M, DOB: 2-9-77). When the contact officer asked for Irons’ license, Irons picked up a small green Ziplock baggie containing a white substance from his gearshift and tried to conceal it between the driver’s seat and center console, all of which was observed by the cover officer from the passenger side.
The cover officer gave verbal commands to stop reaching around the vehicle, and Irons was removed from the car and handcuffed for officer safety. He was wearing black rubber gardening gloves.
A search of Irons’ vehicle located not only the baggie (which proved to be 0.7 grams of cocaine), but a fully loaded Mossberg 500 shotgun on the passenger side floorboard, pressed against the center console and previously within Irons’ reach. Nearly $3,000 was also found, mostly in $20 denominations.
It was discovered that Irons was a previously convicted felon for a long list of past charges, including robbery with a firearm (masked) and sale of cocaine. Irons was charged with possession of cocaine, as well as seven counts of possession of a weapon/ammo by a convicted felon (one count for the shotgun and one count for each of the six shotgun shells it was loaded with). He was transported to the Lee County Jail, and was released from jail three weeks later on June 27th.
In August of 2021, the officers involved were notified by the State Attorney’s Office that Grady Irons received a 36-month sentence for these crimes. He was back in custody at the Lee County Jail on August 17th, awaiting transfer to the Florida Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.
SENTENCED: Grady Irons III, B/M, DOB: 2-9-77, of Fort Myers FL. (3 Years Florida Dept. of Corrections) CHARGES: Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Cocaine
