Public safety top concern, council says
A violent act attributed to a homeless man has left the residents of Fort Myers Beach scared and looking for answers.
“We can’t have a community where, when we come onto the island, we’re scared by what we see,” said Rick Lowry during public comment at last week’s town council meeting.
He told council that two days before the murder of Dr. Leroy Hommerding, the suspect, Adam Soules, had threatened his own life.
Lowry asked council to issue trespassing warrants on public property against people who are violent, and to consult the Sheriff’s Office to see if more could be done.
He said that he hadn’t reported the incident because nothing was done previously.
“Ninety percent of the time, when I call Lee County… I get nowhere,” he said.
Local resident Leon Moyer told council that homicide suspect, Soules, was angry about being trespassed from the library.
The arrest report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office last Wednesday cited Soules’ alleged motive.
He had targeted the library director because he “didn’t like how Hommerding treated him” and he had “disrespected him previously.”
An aggravated assault charge has also been added to Soules’ case for an incident on Jan. 9 that left another homeless man needing 50 stitches.
The victim, Robert Keene, was taken to the hospital early that morning when a LeeTran bus driver noticed his neck wound and called 911, according to court documents.
Keene told detectives he had been approached by a man the night before who demanded his wallet.
When he replied that he did not have any money, the man attacked him.
He later identified Soules in a line-up.
Soules also reportedly confessed to the incident, saying that he “did not like” Keene and felt his behavior was “disrespectful” and “rude.”
He said he has known Keene for three to four years as “they are both homeless and attend Chapel by the Sea,” court documents state.
Because the court deemed two violent attacks in 10 days a significant threat to public safety, he is currently being held without bond, awaiting an arraignment on Feb. 18.
Town Manager Roger Hernstadt confirmed that the town does trespass people on town properties, and suggested that concerns about vagrancy need to be raised with the county.
“Adjacent counties need to weigh in on this homeless issue…the successful programs I’m aware of throughout the country are done that way, and police have a place to bring them to other than jail,” he said.
“We need to review our ordinances on a variety of topics that relate to safety in our community. It’s part of managing change. We need to work now hand-in-hand with the sheriff to deal with a variety of changes,” said Vice Mayor Joanne Shamp.
Councilmember Dennis Boback questioned why the homeless population was drawn to Fort Myers Beach, suggesting it was time to address the God’s Table program at Chapel By The Sea that regularly supplies them with food and medical care.
“The big question is, how do we stop this invasion? And I think it starts with the folks that are drawing them here…I feel it’s our responsibility to look at the overall safety of the community rather than taking care of the few,” he said, adding that the first thing that can be done is remove the dinghy dock behind the Topp’s building where many of the homeless set up camp.
Councilmember Anita Cereceda said she feared angry reactions from the community.
“It’s a sad moment, I know everybody is angry and so am I, but our job is to look at a bigger picture. I believe there should be a conversation between the Sheriff’s Department, Beach Baptist Church, Chapel By the Sea, for that matter all the churches, and the town. We need to come up with some new ideas to deal with this,” she said.
“I know there are people in this community on all sides of the fence who have the ability to come up with some solutions so we don’t kneejerk this. It has to be a long-range plan. The issues are complicated.”
Cleaning up the island’s image could be helpful, Mayor Tracey Gore suggested, citing blighted buildings neglected by business owners.
“We need to be better about managing our maintenance code…we have rules and regulations. Follow them,” she said.
Amy Lowry, who works in Seagrape Plaza, said she is often scared when she leaves her office, and implored council to “make some changes.”
“I’m not classifying all the homeless as being bad individuals. There are a lot of people who have fallen on hard times over the years… we also have those that have created this as a lifestyle. They choose to be out there day after day and do not want the help. Let Dr. Hommerding’s death be a legacy as far as what you all do,” said Amy Lowry.
“The sheriff has told me over and over…it’s not illegal to be homeless, it’s not illegal to be in public spaces. It’s when they become disorderly,” said Gore.
“If it looks odd, call the sheriff, call the town.”
On Monday, Gore met with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department to discuss what can be done to improve public safety. The Sheriff will be installing two mobile surveillance towers, both manned and with video capabilities. One will sit at the base of the Matanzas Pass bridge, and one in the parking lot of the old Topp’s building. Sheriff Carmine Marceno will address the public and answer questions from council at the next town council meeting on Monday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.