SC Staff Report
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has charged Robert Butterfield of Sanibel with felony burglary and felony property damage after an incident last week on Buttonwood Lane.
Sanibel Police responded to the rental property on Buttonwood Lane at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, for a fire set to the thatched roof of a tiki hut and an attempted break-in of a unit on the property.
In the course of breaking into the unit, Butterfield was stabbed in the stomach area and transported to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Butterfield, 40, remains in custody with bonds totaling $55,000. Sanibel Police turned over the investigation to the LCSO.
Police handled the following incidents from Aug. 13 to Aug. 19:
• Aug. 14: Police stopped a vehicle for excessive speed and issued the driver a citation for speeding and a criminal citation for never having a driver’s license.
• Aug. 15: Police stopped a vehicle for excessive speed and issued the driver a speeding citation and a criminal citation for never having a driver’s license.
• Aug. 18: Police stopped a vehicle for excessive speed, and a records check showed the driver’s license was suspended and there was a seize tag order on the vehicle. The driver was issued citations for unlawful speed, failure to carry and exhibit registration, and unknowingly driving with a suspended license. Police seized the license plate and had the vehicle towed from the scene.
Ongoing Vandalism Investigation
Police continue investigating a vandalism incident on Aug. 4 at Lighthouse Resort & Club and are asking the public for help identifying three individuals shown trespassing on the property that evening in surveillance footage.
The footage has been posted to the department’s Facebook page. Anyone with information about the case or the three individuals can text a tip to 847411 with the keyword SANIBEL or call the non-emergency line at 239-472-3111. Tips can be anonymous.
Enforcement Operation Statistics:
Alarm Calls: 8 911 Non-Emergency calls: 13
Traffic Crashes: 2 Radar Details: 45
Traffic Stops: 31 Citations Issued: 15
Verbal Warnings Issued: 20 Total Area Checks: 820
Reported Burglaries: 3 Reported Thefts: 1