Naples couple wanting to walk on the beach during Hurricane Ian curfew hours arrested
Category 5 Hurricane Ian slammed into the southwest coast of Florida on September 28 leaving widespread devastation in its wake. Especially hard hit and still trying to recover are portions of Lee and Collier Counties – so hard hit that officials had put curfews in place to help safeguard residents and what may be left of their homes in some of the hardest hit areas.
Immediately after the hurricane reached the coast, Collier County issued a countywide curfew running from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. All nonessential Collier County services, including transit service, were closed.
Yesterday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) issued an update, saying that the “mandatory midnight to 6 a.m. curfew remains in effect tonight but only for areas of the county that are west of U.S. 41 as well as areas that are south of U.S. 41. This situation is carefully evaluated regularly and the curfew will end as soon as it is safe to do so. The purpose of the curfew is to protect the safety of you and your property as you recover from the effects of Hurricane Ian.”
Also yesterday, the Sheriff’s Office shared how seriously their agency takes that curfew and arrested a Florida man and woman that wanted to take a walk on the beach and who told deputies stopping them that “they didn’t care about the curfew.” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk has made it clear that curfew violators will not be tolerated in Collier County. Deputies remain on high alert for criminal and potential criminal activity as Collier County continues to recover from Hurricane Ian.
“If you have no business being out in the areas under curfew, you will be arrested,” Rambosk said.
Around 1 a.m. on Sunday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which is assisting CCSO in patrolling coastal areas heavily impacted by the storm, conducted a traffic stop on a black Mazda SUV that was speeding in the area of Bluebill Avenue and Gulfshore Drive. The vehicle passed two illuminated signs stating a curfew was in effect and that the beaches and roads were closed ahead.
CCSO deputies responded to assist with the traffic stop. Both the driver and passenger began arguing with deputies, stating they had every right to go the beach. They said they saw the signs about the curfew, but they didn’t care because they wanted to take a walk on the beach.
Due to the fact the pair couldn’t give a legitimate reason for being in the area, deputies took them into custody. Crystle Berman Cuesta, 36, and Addell Cuesta Palmero, 34, both of 570 10th Ave. St., Naples, are charged with violating the emergency curfew.
The Collier County curfew does not apply to emergency responders, employees at health care facilities, critical staff for businesses that provide essential services, or those seeking medical assistance. Violation of the curfew is a second-degree misdemeanor. The Collier Information Hotline remains active. Residents with questions may call the Hotline at (239) 252-8444 (within Collier County, residents may dial 311).
For more on the Hurricane Ian devastation left behind in Naples, Florida, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source and Crystle Berman Cuesta, Addell Cuesta Palmero, Booking Photos per CCSO)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
