Scholarship
Fund Honoring
Nick Sottile Created
By JOE SEELIG

SEBRING — In honor of the life of Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas G. Sottile, a scholarship fund is being created to benefit students seeking education through sports and entering law enforcement.

Sottile, a 24-year veteran of the highway patrol, was fatally shot Jan. 12, while performing his duty during a traffic stop.

Anyone wishing to contribute may go to any Highlands Independent Bank branch to drop off a donation, or mail their donation to Highlands Independent Bank, 120 U.S. 27 S., Lake Placid, 33852.

Make checks payable to Nicholas G. Sottile Scholarship Fund.

Until the fund develops, it is not known how many students will be helped or how much they will receive. Much depends on the generosity of the donations.

Nick Sottile donated a lot of his time to Lake Placid sports when his own children were involved, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr on Tuesday, when he made the announcement.

“It was one of the things he liked,” Carr said, speaking of sports.

Fundraisers are planned to boost the fund. More will be revealed as far as the time and place.

Scholarship recipients will be selected by Sottile’s family.

“The criteria for that has not been established,” he said.

Those seeking a scholarship will need to apply, Carr said. More details as to when and where to apply will also be announced once the scholarship fund has built up.

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AVON PARK — An unattended pot left cooking on a stove in a third-floor utility room caused some alarm Monday evening at the Hotel Jacaranda, in Avon Park.

The hotel and restaurant was temporarily closed while as many as 10 firefighters arrived on scene about 5:30 p.m., after smoke was reported.
“The sprinkler system contained the fire like it seems to always do in this building,” said Avon Park Fire Chief Terry Feickert on Monday, while standing outside the hotel on the Main Street side.

The fire was limited to a third-floor laundry, break room, that contains a stove and washing equipment, Feickert said.

There was additional water damage to the second floor below the fire due to the sprinkler system water leaking down.
Feickert has been full-time with the Avon Park Fire Department since 1979. He said he’s fought about nine or 10 fires there over the years and the sprinkler system always came through.
“If there’s ever been a poster building for sprinkler systems, the Hotel Jacaranda is it,” Feickert said.

The hotel was built in 1925 and houses students from South Florida Community College as well as other guests.

The fire started on the dormitory side of the hotel.

“The biggest concern is if fire gets into the walls where there is no sprinkler system,” Feickert said. “I’m always concerned with fire when you have a large gathering of people, such as here with a hotel and restaurant.

The hotel and restaurant was evacuated until the all clear could be given by the city fire inspector.

Fire officials cleared the scene at 7 p.m.

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SEBRING — The two men law enforcement officials said were involved with this month’s shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol officer are being held separately not only from other inmates, but from each other.

Highlands County Jail Detention Center Captain Booker Johnson said jail officials made the decision to house the two apart from other inmates until further notice.

Joshua Lee Altersberger and Quintin Jerome Kinder were arrested last week after FHP reports said Sgt. Nicholas Sottile pulled over a vehicle the two were using near Lake Placid for a traffic violation.

The FHP said Altersberger shot Sottile in the chest and fled in his vehicle, prompting Kinder to flee into a nearby orange grove. According to an FHP report, Kinder was a passenger in the car driven by Altersberger.

The two were later separately caught by law enforcement. Altersberger is charged with first-degree murder, while Kinder is charged with trespassing in a cultivated grove, a misdemeanor.

The two suspects have been ordered held without bond and are currently being held in the Highlands County Jail.

Johnson said the decision to separate the two suspects is not uncommon, considering both are high-profile suspects.

He said Altersberger and Kinder are the two most high-profile suspects the jail has had in years.

“It was determined as soon as they were processed,” he said.

“We’re concerned with their safety and making sure we don’t put them in with a family member of the deceased. We look that stuff up. As with most high-profile inmates, it’s very much the case here,” Johnson said.

Johnson said a court date for Altersberger most likely won’t be scheduled for anytime within the next six months.

“There is no set criteria, but eventually they will be mixed in with the general population,” he said, adding other high-profile inmates not initially released to the general inmate population have included those charged with homicide and crimes against children.

State attorneys said last week they intend to seek the death penalty against Altersberger, a Sebring resident.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said last week that Altersberger’s trial might be at least two years away.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Altersberger was arrested two years ago and charged with battery, aggravated assault with a weapon and cocaine possession.

Houchin said setting a trial date for Altersberger will take longer than any usual criminal trial, given the capital murder charges filed against him.

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SEBRING — Highlands County court officials will appoint a private attorney for the Georgia suspect accused of fleeing after law enforcement officers said he witnessed the shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol officer.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said Monday the Highlands County Public Defender’s Office has withdrawn itself from representing Quintin Jerome Kinder, 21. Houchin said the court will appoint a local private attorney for Kinder.

Houchin said the public defender’s office is already representing 19-year-old Joshua Lee Altersberger, the Sebring resident accused of killing FHP Sgt. Nicholas Sottile earlier this month.

“There’s an obvious conflict of interest,” Houchin said, adding one suspect may give public defenders information that could incriminate the other.

Kinder may also be facing a violation of probation charge from his native state, Houchin said.

But Houchin said he had no further details on that possible charge.

According to records from the Decatur County Jail in Georgia, 21-year-old Kinder was arrested or charged for the following between 2003-05: Burglary, theft, obstruction of justice, driving on a suspended license, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, criminal trespass and violation of probation.

Altersberger and Kinder were arrested earlier this month after FHP reports said Sottile pulled over a vehicle the two were using near Lake Placid for a traffic violation.

The FHP said Altersberger shot Sottile in the chest and fled in his vehicle, prompting Kinder to flee into a nearby orange grove.
The two were later separately caught by law enforcement. Altersberger is charged with first-degree murder.

Kinder is charged with trespassing in a cultivated grove, a misdemeanor.

A judge last week ordered both men held in jail without bond.

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Bird Lovers Unite In Sebring
By BILL RETTEW JR.

SEBRING — The weather outside of the Highlands County Agri-Civic Center on Saturday was delightful, but once inside it turned fowl.
About 500 bird enthusiasts met for judging, to shop at vendor stands and to chat about birds.

The Heartland Avian Society event featured two parrot shows and two cockatiel shows. Bird lovers were able to watch the judging close up.
Laurie Lukanszewsai, of Sebring, keeps a pair of Soloman Eclectus birds.

“You never know what to expect,” said Lukanszewsai. “They’re like two-year-olds and never grow up. They’re always full of surprises.”
Jacquie Houston, of Sebring, takes her birds on the road with her when she travels.

“You can’t sneak into a motel room with two parakeets with their squeaking and bell playing,” said Houston.

Cathy Boldt, president of the Avian Society said she enjoyed meeting so many bird enthusiasts in one place.

John Sbiegay, of Sebring, said he refers to the bird sitting on his shoulder as “Rambo,” because the bird has “a bit of a nasty streak.”

He walks the dogs with Rambo perched on his shoulder.

The Heartland Avian Society, a non-profit corporation, meets the third Saturday of each month at 2 p.m., at Alligator Pack and Ship, 1001 U.S. 27 S., Avon Park. Everyone is welcome and bird owners meet to share knowledge of birds and for fellowship.

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Hardee Sets
Impact Fees

By MARC VALERO

WAUCHULA — The shortage of affordable housing in the county will continue and new housing construction may come to a standstill if high impact fees are imposed, landlords told the Hardee County Commission.

Businessmen sounded off Thursday as commissioners considered a resolution to set the residential and non-residential (excluding warehouse and industrial) impacts fees at the 75 percent level effective July 1.

Also, the proposed resolution would have increased residential and non-residential (excluding warehouse and industrial) impacts fees to the 100 percent level Jan. 1, 2008.

The commission approved a revised resolution with residential and non-residential (excluding warehouse and industrial) impacts fees to be imposed at the 50 percent level effective July 1.

Warehouse and industrial impact fees will be imposed at the 50 percent level starting Oct. 1.

The subsequent increases that were in the original resolution were deleted.

“When building some rentals, duplexes ... the problem we have, the amount that is being thrown around is about $6,000,” Larry Martel said about the impact fees. “We need affordable housing in the county, that $6,000 is a year’s rent.

The county is the one that gets the benefit, because if Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation expands or the cargo airport comes, there has to be affordable housing for the employees, he said. “They are going to go outside the county because you are going to put an impact fee on where it makes it impossible for us to build and give a quality place for them to live.

“When the rent goes too much over $600 a month it’s hard to find people who can afford it.”

“I’ve built 13 duplexes in the last three years,” said Howard Bolin. “I’m probably going to have to borrow money to pay the taxes ... if I have to put another $6,000 plus whatever the schools comes up with, it’s almost impossible to build.

People cannot pay more than $600 for rent, he said.

“Assuming that the [impact] study is correct, somebody is going to pay for this,” Commissioner Dale Johnson said. “Somebody’s gotta pay for the sheriff’s department, the roads, the schools.

“Now the state says if you don’t meet concurrency, if you can’t meet the services, then you can’t build. Then you are going to be out of business anyway.”

“The money for new growth has got to come from somewhere,” Commissioner Nick Timmerman said. “Do you want to put it on the citizens who pay ad valorem or the new growth?”

“Give us three years to go to 100 percent,” Martel suggested.

“Somehow we should be able to look at some cash-flow scenarios that show where the proper level to implement these fees are so that we can have growth,” and meet the concurrency requirements, Bill Lambert said. There has got to be some compromise here.

“I understand the need for the county government to have the revenue,” he said. “But, I also understand the need for a healthy private sector, especially in this little economy that is doing some form of transition from traditional agricultural economy to something else.

“If we don’t transition from ag we’re going to do nothing with this, but maintain the status quo in Hardee County.”

Sen. Alexander asked recently what the county has done to help itself, such as impact fees and a 5 cent gas tax, Commissioner Minor Bryant said. “Before they help us, we have to help ourselves, but I cannot imagine us doing 100 percent of this.”

A study will start soon to determine the recommended levels for school impact fees. With the school impact fees unknown at this time, commissioners discussed implementation of the county impact fees at the 50 percent level.

“Why is it that we have to start at 50 percent, why can’t we start at 25 percent like Highlands County and work our way up,” Tim Wells said.
Bryant said the administrative costs would make it impractical to implement at 25 percent level.

“We are going to make everybody a little unhappy,” he said.

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Sheriff: Cannabis Growers Are Moving Next Door
SEBRING — When people talk about marijuana being the third-ranked cash crop in the state of Florida, they’re talking about Highlands County too, Sheriff Susan Benton told the county commissioners Tuesday.

“In November of 2006, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office participated in a multi-state investigation that uncovered the largest marijuana operation in the county’s history,” Benton wrote in her January report, which was delivered to the commissioners.

“Grow houses have become popular due to the controlled growing environment that yields a higher potency,” Capt. Randy LaBelle was quoted in the sheriff’s report.

“Also, the advanced air surveillance and the heavily patrolled waterways have contributed in pushing the cultivation of this drug indoors,” Benton wrote. “These criminals are coming in and buying houses that look at home in the neighborhood, doing major internal renovations, installing elaborate air condition units, generators, and lighting, and then doing business as usual in our neighborhoods.” Benton asked
neighbors to be aware of move-ins who install dual air conditioners, or hook up illegally to utilities. One house used $5,000 in water a month for three months, she said. Others are stealing electricity.

To legally retaliate, the state and federal governments are seizing properties, she said.

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APPD Seeking Fugitive
ACCUSED OF LEAVING SCENE OF FATAL CRASH
By JOE SEELIG

AVON PARK — The driver of a car who reportedly left the scene of a fatal crash at about 6 a.m. Dec. 20, at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Main Street, was being sought Thursday by the Avon Park Police Department.

Domingo Herrere-Hernandez, 44, also known as Domingo Herrere, is 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He reportedly has a pronounced oval fingernail-sized scar on the bridge of his nose next to his right eye.

His last known address was 1099 Lake Anoka Blvd., Avon Park.

Herrere-Hernandez may be working as a drywall finisher.

Police report the suspect ran from the crash scene and was located at about 6:40 a.m., at south Anoka Avenue and Walnut Street where he was arrested on the same day of the crash.

Ronald J. Warren, 71, was transported to Florida Hospital Heartland Division by Highlands County Emergency Medical Services personnel for treatment of his injuries. He died two days later at Florida Hospital from his injuries, police said.

Herrere-Hernandez was initially charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with no valid driver’s license.
In the mean time, Herrere-Hernandez posted $1,500 bond and was released.

The original charges were amended and a new warrant was issued for Herrere-Hernandez.

Warren was driving a white mid-sized pickup truck driving north on U.S. 27, and Herrere-Hernandez was driving a black full-size pickup truck heading east on State Road 64 West, when, according to an Avon Police spokeswoman, he ran a red light.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the whereabouts of Herrere-Hernandez is asked to call police Sgt. Jason B. Lister at 863-453-6622.

A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Domingo Herrere-Hernandez, according to police.

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Citrus Grown At Home Can’t Be Shipped
By BILL RETTEW JR.

SEBRING — For the kids and friends up north, there’s bad news.

There will be a little bit less Florida sunshine north of Jacksonville this winter because of citrus canker.

Out-of-state shipping or mailing of citrus by non-commercial growers is forbidden due to a U.S. Department of Agriculture quarantine.

Mark Fagan, spokesman with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said Tuesday that Florida residents trying to mail or ship oranges grown in the backyard (dooryard citrus) have been regularly disappointed when they go to the post office.

Postal employees and shippers like UPS are forced to deliver the bad news to Florida residents.

“We’ve had a great many calls from all over the state from people who want to send citrus to their friends and family,” said Fagan.

George Wolf, of Chloe Terrace in Sebring, gives away hundreds of pieces of citrus each season from his backyard’s five trees. He distributes fruit freely and even leaves bags of oranges for trash and postal workers.

“I try to share the wealth,” said Wolf. “When you’ve got a good crop, you should spread the blessing to others.”

The grower of tangelos, tangerines, grapefruit, naval and juice oranges said he hates to see wasted fruit on the ground in back yards, considering Sebring’s senior population.

“Particularly since senior citizens are on very, very tight budgets,” he said.

Restrictions were put in place to prevent the spread of citrus canker. On Aug. 2, an interim rule was released to curtail the spread of canker to other orange producing states, which include: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Louisiana and Texas.

The rub for those with tangelo or orange trees in the back yard is a series of requirements, which include: grove inspection within 30 days of harvest; crop treatment with a decontaminant; a permit confirming inspection and treatment; and clear marking on packages to indicate that Florida fruit is prohibited from other growing states.

Andrea McNally, spokesperson with the USDA, said the department doesn’t have enough resources to process enough limited permits to cover backyard growers.

During the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, airborne canker blew and spread easily, sometimes for more than a mile at a time. The USDA ordered that large tracts of trees were regularly destroyed to prevent canker spread. The USDA then had a change of heart.

“Citrus canker eradication in Florida was no longer a scientifically feasible option,” according to a news release from the USDA about a Jan. 2006 decision.

Ninety percent of Florida’s orange crop is harvested into juice, the industry employees 90,000 workers statewide and covers 620,000 acres, according to a media release from Florida Citrus Mutual. Fagan noted that Highlands County is the state’s fourth leading citrus producer with 78,000 acres harvested, behind Polk County with 101,000 acres.

Fagan said that the current ban on home growers might not last forever.

“We would like to sit down with the USDA and look at the rules of quarantine for the next summer,” said Fagan. “We hope to see changes after this season. As long as the commercial industry follows decontamination procedures they will help to minimize the risk of canker exposure.”
No freezes have hit Florida growers this season, but an estimated 75 percent of California’s crop suffered four consecutive nights of sub-freezing temperatures.

“The 2006-2007 Florida crop should help bridge the gap, as it is maturing with excellent quality and good appearance,” according to Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. 

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Death Penalty Sought In Trooper Slaying
GRAND JURY BEING CONVENED
By CHRIS BUTLER

SEBRING — State attorneys said this week they intend to seek the death penalty against a 19-year-old Sebring suspect charged with last week’s shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol officer north of Lake Placid.

The shooting is prompting Highlands County Court officials to convene their first grand jury in two years.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said late Wednesday that any trial involving the suspect might be at least two years away.
Meanwhile, Highlands County Court Services Director Bob Germaine said the 21-member grand jury is scheduled to convene the morning of Feb. 5 to determine whether to issue an indictment against Joshua Lee Altersberger, 19.

“I’m sure that’s what this grand jury is being brought in for,” Germaine said, adding areas more populated than Highlands County usually have grand juries established at all times because of higher crime rates.  Houchin said Highlands County usually averages one murder per year.
Altersberger is charged with first-degree murder in the death of FHP Sgt. Nicholas Sottile, 48. Sottile stopped a 2003 Toyota Camry on northbound U.S. 27 last Friday for a traffic violation. According to an FHP report, Altersberger’s passenger, Quintin Jerome Kinder, 21, then fled into a nearby orange grove. FHP said Kinder is a Georgia resident.

The FHP said Altersberger then shot Sottile in the chest and fled in his vehicle, later located in a Sebring orange grove.
Officers found and arrested Altersberger early Saturday morning.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Altersberger was arrested two years ago and charged with battery, aggravated assault with a weapon and cocaine possession.

Kinder was charged with trespassing in a cultivated grove after surrendering without incident early Saturday morning.
The two suspects have been ordered held without bond and are currently being held in the Highlands County Jail.

Houchin said setting a trial date will take longer than any usual criminal trial, given the capital murder charges.
“I expect his defense attorneys will ask for a continuance. It’s also likely the defense will seek a change of venue,” he said, meaning the trial could take place as far away as Tampa or even Miami.

Tenth Judicial District Office spokesman Chip Thulberry said from Bartow that any of the suspect’s court-appointed attorneys are required to have at least tried a certain number of previous first degree murder trials.

Stetson University law professor Robert Batey of St. Petersburg said Altersberger’s young age could serve as a mitigating factor for any judge or jury pondering a death sentence, assuming he’s convicted.

“But in the end, the jury can only make a recommendation to the judge as to what the final sentence is,” Batey said.

He also said any appeals process after a capital murder trial is “notoriously slow.”

“There’s an extreme appeals process through the state supreme court. Then there is a period for the governor and his cabinet to consider executive clemency,” Batey said.

He also said a period of 10 years or more to carry out a death sentence after a conviction isn’t all that unusual.

“There’s a relatively high reversal rate in the appeals process in capital cases as opposed to other criminal cases,” Batey said.

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Man Sues After Outdoor Channel Appearance
By CHRIS BUTLER

SEBRING — Attorneys for Avon Park resident Dimitrios Tsakalos said their client watches the Outdoor Channel with an almost religious fervor.
So imagine the shock the outdoorsman and Highlands County restaurant owner felt after unexpectedly seeing himself on the national television network.

Now imagine how Tsakalos felt when he said the Outdoor Channel portrayed him as someone in the middle of a criminal act.
Tsakalos chose not to comment for this story, but has taken legal action.

He said an Outdoor Channel program not only thrust him in the national spotlight without his permission, but completely misrepresented him.

Tsakalos said in a lawsuit against the National Wild Turkey Federation that he was turkey hunting near Highlands Hammock State Park in 2005 when he was interrupted by a camera crew from their organization.

He said in the suit that he had legal permission to hunt on the property. Tsakalos also said in his suit that NWTF crew members told him they were filming a documentary on turkey hunting.

He said he thought no more of the incident until six months later when an Outdoor Channel documentary falsely identified him as both a “poacher” and a “trespasser.”

He also said the crew never had permission to film him while turkey hunting. Tsakalos is suing for defamation, as well as punitive and compensatory damages. He said in his suit that he was “ridiculed, disgraced and experienced injury to his reputation.”

The papers were filed at the Highlands Courthouse last week.

According to its Web site, the South Carolina-based NWTF is a nonprofit organization with 545,000 members throughout 50 states, Canada, Mexico and 14 other countries. The Web site said the organization supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands.

Attempts to reach NWTF spokesman Jonathan Harling were unsuccessful before press time. Attempts to reach representatives from the California-based Outdoor Channel were also unsuccessful.

Tsakalos is also suing for mental anguish, lost earning capacity and related health conditions “brought on by the stress of the slanderous statement.”

His attorney said he doesn’t know the specific name of the program on which his client appeared.

Lakeland attorney Robert Busch added his client owns a Highlands County restaurant and has been approached about his television appearance by many customers.

“You can’t challenge these people to a dual to defend your honor, so you have to file a lawsuit instead,” Busch said, adding the lawsuit might later involve the Outdoor Channel itself, but he’s not yet certain if it will.

“As far we’re concerned right now, the NWTF are the ones who misrepresented my client and the Outdoor Channel simply took them at face value,” Busch said.

Busch was uncertain when asked whether his client signed a release form giving permission to televise him.

“I don’t remember asking if he signed such a release form,” Busch said, adding the NWTF would have already sent him a copy if one exists.

So far they haven’t, Busch said.

“That still doesn’t justify them calling my client a poacher and a trespasser,” he added.

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WINK And WFTV Will Not Be Dropped
By DOUG CARMAN

SEBRING — Avon Park residents will not miss the Miami Dolphins games. Sebring area cable subscribers can still catch “Wheel of Fortune” at 7 p.m.

Channels 11 and 9 are safe ... at least for now.

Making the announcement at Tuesday’s City Council meeting in Sebring, Comcast Area Vice President Rod Dagenais said that the cable company has, for the indefinite future, yielded to public demand, putting off any plan to remove the two channels.

“After all of the letters we received from our customers, and after talking to some of you since we met last… we decided not to drop the channels at this point in time,” Dagenais told the council, adding that Comcast never formally told their customers they would be dropping the channels.

Dagenais did state however that Comcast may need to reclaim the channels later on, but for now, there are no plans to do so.

Customers throughout Highlands County expressed concern that the two channels were going to be lost. WINK is the only channel in the area that carries the Miami Dolphins football games as well as “Wheel of Fortune,” although WTSP airs “Wheel of Fortune” at a different time.

WINK is carried countywide. WFTV is not carried in the Lake Placid area.

Dagenais also said that there was no limited capacity issue with the network, contrary to his statement in December, and he apologized for the “confusion.”

“I may have made it sound like we had a capacity issue on our fiber optics ... that certainly isn’t the case,” Dagenais said. “We have plenty of capacity.”

At a Dec. 5, 2006 meeting before the Council, Dagenais suggested that Comcast was considering the removal of the two channels after they finished acquiring the digital signals from Tampa. CBS affiliate WINK, Channel 11 out of Fort Myers, and ABC affiliate WFTV, Channel 9 out of Orlando, were to be dropped.  WTSP, Tampa’s CBS affiliate on Channel 10, would have replaced Channel 11.

WTSP will still be launched in Highlands County at a later time, but Comcast had no definite date on it.

Channel 9’s reception on Comcast continues to be problematic. Dagenais said this is because the channel broadcasts from the northeast end of Orange County, while Comcast’s reception center is in Lake Wales.

Outside of the meeting, Dagenais said Wednesday that WFTV was cooperating with Comcast to solve this issue and he was hoping it would be solved within 30 days.

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Attempted Murder Suspect Not Yet Formally Charged By State
By CHRIS BUTLER

SEBRING — The trial of a Lake Placid man charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and battery will commence once various jurisdictional issues are resolved. 

As 10th Circuit Court Judge Peter Estrada said Tuesday that his court doesn’t have jurisdiction over the matter until state attorneys formally charge Alex Rowe, 19, no address given.

Rowe was arrested Christmas Eve after a woman told Sebring Police Rowe had abducted her 25-year-old daughter at gunpoint. The woman said her daughter was forced into Rowe’s car, and it headed south.

Sheriff’s deputies later reported seeing Rowe’s car near Lake Placid and rescuing the woman’s daughter. Deputies reported finding the 25-year-old female crying hysterically, saying “he’s gonna kill me.”

“The victim was physically shaking because she was afraid and could barely speak,” Sebring Police officers said in their report. 
The woman told arriving Sebring Police officers that Rowe had “physically thrown her” into his vehicle, adding she tried to escape but Rowe held her against her will.

She also said two more attempts to get out of his car had failed before he told her he “would kill and bury her.”

The woman said those statements left her in fear for her life.

“They have been living together as a family for some time,” the report quoted the woman telling police.

Rowe was placed under arrest after deputies reported finding a loaded pistol and illegal narcotics under the carpet of his vehicle. According to the deputy’s report, Rowe later admitted his driver’s license was suspended.

Deputies also reported Rowe had admitted forcing the woman into his car, but he denied ever threatening her life.

According to his arrest report, Rowe is a Jamaican citizen.

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Sign The Guest Book For Nick Sottile

By MANDY SHEETS

Trooper’s Funeral | Raw Video | Photos

Sgt. Nicholas Sottile was remembered as “a Trooper’s Trooper,” a devoted husband and father, a great cook and a man of faith at his funeral today.

The 24-year-veteran of Florida Highway Patrol was shot Friday during a routine traffic stop just outside Lake Placid. He died that evening at Florida Hospital Lake Placid.

More than 2,500 people gathered at Restoration Church of the Highlands to honor Sottile, including about 2,000 law enforcement personnel from throughout the state and country.

Sgt. Wesley Daum, who worked with Sottile in Troop F – Arcadia, said the death of his colleague is a shock he is still trying to cope with.

“Friday, the world as we know it stopped and it’s almost like we are in a fog now,” Daum said. “We are going to get through with the help of the people here who know and love Nick.”

Gov. Charlie Crist thanked Sottile and all law enforcement officers for their service.

“Every day, Florida law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way and put their lives on the line for us,” Crist said. “On behalf of citizens in the state of Florida, I thank you for this and for making our lives more secure and safe … We are forever indebted to you.”

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Sign The Guest Book For Nick Sottile

LAKE PLACID – Sgt. Nick Sottile was remembered Saturday as a super trooper, caring man and a fantastic cook by those who knew him.

The Florida Highway Patrol officer was shot Friday afternoon after reportedly pulling over a Toyota Camry on U.S. 27 north of Lake Placid. He died later at Florida Hospital Lake Placid.

His brother, Jimmy Sottile, said Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton called him Saturday morning to report that the two suspects law enforcement officers were searching for had been apprehended.

“It is terrible that some 19-year-old punk made my brother a hero,” Sottile said, adding that he was glad no one else was hurt. “My dad is 73 years old and he didn’t want to outlive his kids.

“This is a real tragedy and is a loss to the whole community,” he said. “We have been here our whole lives.
“By the grace of God we will get through this; we’re a very close family.”

Born in Avon Park, Nick Sottile was raised in Lake Placid and graduated from Lake Placid High School, his brother said. Nick worked briefly after high school before joining the FHP.

“He worked in Miami and survived Miami only to be killed in his hometown,” Jimmy Sottile said.

Nick was a 24-year veteran of the patrol, and could have retired in a year if he chose to do so, according to Florida Highway Patrol Director Col. Christopher A. Knight.

Knight said the best way to describe Sottile was as a “super trooper.”

“He was a friend to all of us,” he said. “He was an excellent man.”

“He just loved what he did and didn’t shirk his responsibility,” Jimmy Sottile said. “He took his job very seriously; he earned his money.”

In his spare time, Nick loved to cook for people and “was a fantastic cook,” Jimmy Sottile said. He also enjoyed hunting.
Sottile is also survived by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Heather and son Nicholas II, also a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Knight said.

Elizabeth is the girls soccer coach at Lake Placid High School.

“I knew her husband and taught both of her kids,” said Cindy Rivers, Lake Placid’s athletic director. “Actually, I went to school with her and her brother and … what do you say? What do you say? What do you do? Obviously, the whole school, faculty and staff will be there in any capacity that she needs. You don’t know what to say. You don’t know what to do.”

Joe Seelig and Kevin Carlson of Highlands Today contributed to this story. 

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