Edition #12 3-min read Sunrise 7:29 AM in Sarasota
Overnight Roundup
While You Were Sleeping: Wednesday, Oct. 14
Wednesday's overnight catch-up: UTC jewelers help deputies uncover a $361,000 elder exploitation case, Venice moves toward a data center pause, Manatee firefighters head to the Panhandle after Isaias, a Sarasota Memorial heart surgery first, and Sarasota police zero in on high-crash roads.
Good morning, Suncoast. The bay is flat and dark this early, and the news desk had a little more going on than the water did. A couple of local business owners trusted their gut, Venice took a first vote on a pause, and some of our firefighters are a long way from home this week. Here's what you missed while you were sleeping.
Courts & Crime
1. UTC jewelers help uncover $361K elder exploitation case
Two brothers who own A&Z Jewelers at the University Town Center mall, both former law enforcement officers, called the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in July after two customers ran up more than $40,000 in purchases in a short span and couldn't show ID on a fourth visit, FOX 13 reports. Detectives say the card belonged to a Sarasota man who died in March, and that one of the suspects had been assigned to care for him and his wife at an assisted living facility. Investigators say the card was used more than 550 times between June 2 and Aug. 25, while $361,938 in payments came out of the couple's bank accounts. Reinier Reinoso, 42, and Suyeng Daniels-Lopez, 45, face charges including exploitation of an elderly person of $50,000 or more.
Why it matters: Sheriff Kurt Hoffman thanked the store owners for reporting their suspicions, and detectives urged families to make sure they can truly trust anyone hired to help with care.
Source: FOX 13 Tampa Bay Copy link
Government
2. Venice moves toward a 12-month data center pause
Venice City Council unanimously passed the first reading of a moratorium on data center development Tuesday, ABC 7 reports. If it's enacted, the pause would last 12 months, and Venice would join Sarasota and Manatee counties and North Port in putting data center talks on hold. The second reading and final vote are set for Oct. 27. Mayor Nick Pachota said the issue hasn't drawn much public comment in Venice, since there's little open land for a project like that there.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Public Safety
3. Manatee County task force heads to the Panhandle after Isaias
Manatee County Structural Task Force 3601 left at 3:30 a.m. Sunday for Escambia County to help with the emergency response after Hurricane Isaias, according to the City of Bradenton Fire Department. Crews and equipment came from East Manatee Fire Rescue, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue, the Parrish Fire Department, Bradenton Fire, Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue and West Manatee Fire Rescue, ABC 7 reports. The department didn't share details on the team's specific assignment.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Health
4. Sarasota Memorial surgeon pairs two new heart devices in one operation
Sarasota Memorial Hospital says Dr. Jonathan Hoffberger replaced a patient's failing tricuspid valve with a TRIFORMIS RESILIA valve and closed the left atrial appendage with an ECLIPTIS system in the same surgery, ABC 7 reports. Manufacturer Edwards Lifesciences said it was the first time the two devices had been implanted together in one patient anywhere in the world. The FDA approved the valve in May and cleared the closure system in June.
Why it matters: Hoffberger said combining them let the team replace a diseased valve and address a significant source of stroke risk without separate surgeries.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Public Safety
5. Sarasota police focus on high-crash roads in safety push
The Sarasota Police Department is continuing a traffic safety campaign aimed at pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers, with officers focusing on stretches picked from crash data, ABC 7 reports. They include parts of U.S. 301, South U.S. 41 from Arlington Street to Bahia Vista Street, Fruitville Road, South Osprey Avenue, North Tamiami Trail from 10th to 42nd streets, Tuttle Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The focus is education, but officers may issue warnings or citations.
Why it matters: Police said Sarasota County ranks among Florida's top 25 counties for serious and fatal crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
That's the overnight desk for Wednesday. Give the crosswalks a little extra patience on the way in, and we'll see you tomorrow morning.