Crime & Public Safety
Lee County K9 dies after apprehension in North Fort Myers neighborhood
A Lee County Sheriff’s Office K9 died while assisting deputies during an early-morning apprehension in the Island Vista Estates neighborhood of North Fort Myers. The agency reported the canine, a 4-year-old named Dundee, became unresponsive after tracking and helping deputies take a fleeing person into custody. LCSO said the death occurred Monday morning and appears to have been caused by a medical event; no gunshot or stab wounds were found.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies had been patrolling the neighborhood shortly after midnight because of recent burglaries and reports of suspicious persons. They located a gray sedan parked improperly and smelled burnt Canna when they approached. Five people were in the vehicle; one ran and was tracked by Dundee and his handler into nearby woods, where the individual was taken into custody.
Deputies and medical staff performed emergency efforts on Dundee, but the K9 was later pronounced dead. LCSO reported Dundee joined the office in February 2024, completed 174 deployments and was credited with 28 apprehensions during his service. Deputies recovered a BB-style gun, a black ski mask and Canna in the vehicle during a subsequent search.
The sheriff’s report says three occupants of the car were arrested and booked on charges that include possession of Canna and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; one person has not been publicly named in the report. The department conducted a procession and held a news briefing after transporting Dundee to a veterinary hospital; the case remains under the agency’s active handling as documented by LCSO.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.