Latest news with #SarasotaCounty
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some Florida officers are continuing to charge people under halted immigration law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Some law enforcement officers are continuing to charge people under a Florida law that bans people living in the U.S. illegally from entering the state, even though a federal judge has halted enforcement of the law while it's challenged in court. Two more people were arrested and charged under the law in July, according to a report Florida's attorney general is required to file as punishment for defying the judge's ruling. Both men were arrested by a sheriff's officer in Sarasota County, located on the state's southwest coast. The charges came months after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami first halted enforcement of the state statute, which makes it a misdemeanor for people who are in the U.S. without legal permission to enter Florida by eluding immigration officials. As punishment for flouting her order and being found in civil contempt, the judge required Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to file bimonthly reports about whether any arrests, detentions or law enforcement actions have been made under the law. In separate incidents on July 3 and July 28, the men were each charged with driving without a valid license and offenses related to driving under the influence of alcohol. The State Attorney's Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit dismissed the illegal entry charges against them, and requested that the sheriff's office advice the arresting officer of the court's order halting enforcement of the law, according to the status report. A spokesperson for Uthmeier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a separate court filing, immigrants' rights advocates who filed the lawsuit questioned whether state officials are using the blocked law to justify holding detainees at an isolated immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Attorneys for the advocates provided the court an email apparently sent by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee to the offices of members of Congress, stating that Florida officials are relying on legal authority granted by the blocked law. 'ICE's email raises serious concerns about potential violations of the Court's injunction on a large scale,' attorneys for the immigrants' rights groups wrote, asking the court to order the state to explain under what legal authority it's holding people at the Everglades facility. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Some Florida officers are continuing to charge people under halted immigration law
Some law enforcement officers are continuing to charge people under a Florida law that bans people living in the U.S. illegally from entering the state, even though a federal judge has halted enforcement of the law while it's challenged in court. Two more people were arrested and charged under the law in July, according to a report Florida's attorney general is required to file as punishment for defying the judge's ruling. Both men were arrested by a sheriff's officer in Sarasota County, located on the state's southwest coast. The charges came months after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami first halted enforcement of the state statute, which makes it a misdemeanor for people who are in the U.S. without legal permission to enter Florida by eluding immigration officials. As punishment for flouting her order and being found in civil contempt, the judge required Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to file bimonthly reports about whether any arrests, detentions or law enforcement actions have been made under the law. In separate incidents on July 3 and July 28, the men were each charged with driving without a valid license and offenses related to driving under the influence of alcohol. The State Attorney's Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit dismissed the illegal entry charges against them, and requested that the sheriff's office advice the arresting officer of the court's order halting enforcement of the law, according to the status report. A spokesperson for Uthmeier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a separate court filing, immigrants' rights advocates who filed the lawsuit questioned whether state officials are using the blocked law to justify holding detainees at an isolated immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Attorneys for the advocates provided the court an email apparently sent by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee to the offices of members of Congress, stating that Florida officials are relying on legal authority granted by the blocked law. 'ICE's email raises serious concerns about potential violations of the Court's injunction on a large scale,' attorneys for the immigrants' rights groups wrote, asking the court to order the state to explain under what legal authority it's holding people at the Everglades facility. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Associated Press
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Some Florida officers are continuing to charge people under halted immigration law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Some law enforcement officers are continuing to charge people under a Florida law that bans people living in the U.S. illegally from entering the state, even though a federal judge has halted enforcement of the law while it's challenged in court. Two more people were arrested and charged under the law in July, according to a report Florida's attorney general is required to file as punishment for defying the judge's ruling. Both men were arrested by a sheriff's officer in Sarasota County, located on the state's southwest coast. The charges came months after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami first halted enforcement of the state statute, which makes it a misdemeanor for people who are in the U.S. without legal permission to enter Florida by eluding immigration officials. As punishment for flouting her order and being found in civil contempt, the judge required Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to file bimonthly reports about whether any arrests, detentions or law enforcement actions have been made under the law. In separate incidents on July 3 and July 28, the men were each charged with driving without a valid license and offenses related to driving under the influence of alcohol. The State Attorney's Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit dismissed the illegal entry charges against them, and requested that the sheriff's office advice the arresting officer of the court's order halting enforcement of the law, according to the status report. A spokesperson for Uthmeier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a separate court filing, immigrants' rights advocates who filed the lawsuit questioned whether state officials are using the blocked law to justify holding detainees at an isolated immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Attorneys for the advocates provided the court an email apparently sent by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee to the offices of members of Congress, stating that Florida officials are relying on legal authority granted by the blocked law. 'ICE's email raises serious concerns about potential violations of the Court's injunction on a large scale,' attorneys for the immigrants' rights groups wrote, asking the court to order the state to explain under what legal authority it's holding people at the Everglades facility. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigating Nokomis shooting Saturday night
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting in the area of Turner and Church Streets in Nokomis. Two vehicles fled the area after the shooting about 7:32 p.m. Saturday, June 28. One vehicle was described as a black BMW and the other a green Chevy Bronco. A news release said the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section is investigating and could provide more information later. A person of interest has been identified but is not currently in custody, the release stated. Anyone with information about incident is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigation Section at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), online at This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Nokomis shooting Saturday being investigated by Sheriff's Office
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-Siesta Key resort manager accused of stealing $110K from hotel
SIESTA KEY, Fla. (WFLA) — A former Siesta Key resort manager was arrested last month after deputies said he stole $110,000 from a top-rated resort. Billy Prater was arrested on May 21 after the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said he used his status as Siesta Key Palms Resort manager to give free rooms or cancel rooms in the system and pocketed the money. The resort's owner met with deputies on Nov. 26 to file a fraud report after he discovered that his former officer manager was stealing from his business following a financial audit, an arrest affidavit said. Investigators said another part of Prater's scheme was to hire a handyman to complete jobs around the property. The report showed that Prater paid the handyman through CashApp, PayPal and company payroll. Deputies said it was unclear what work the handyman did and if the amount he was paid was inflated. 'You done messed up': Wanted man who challenged Polk deputies on Facebook to catch him arrested by Lakeland police An audit showed that Prater stole about $110,470.19 from the end of 2023 through 2024, the report said. Prater is also accused of committing FEMA fraud by adding extra stays to FEMA-approved accounts, even though the guests didn't stay those nights. The information was forwarded to FEMA, and the owner was forced to pay FEMA $7,003, the report showed. According to court records, Prater bonded out of jail on May 22 for $50,000. He has a criminal arraignment hearing scheduled for June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
