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Errett recognized for work in high-profile homicide

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Rick Errett, Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy

Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Errett was recognized at the recent North Fort Myers Chamber luncheon as Deputy of the Month – specifically for his work in one of the area’s most horrific homicides.

Lt. Steve Edlin nominated Errett for his work in the Hatton Rogers Lane murder investigation of Charles Buddy Rogers. The nomination was read and expanded on by Deputy Jarrod Cantrell.

“It was one of the most bizarre and grisly crime scenes ever recorded in this area,” said Cantrell, recalling Edlin’s words in his nomination. “It seemed surreal, like it wasn’t real,” said Cantrell of his own account.

Edlin described the scene and the investigation.

At the scene, arriving officers found a human head lying on the floor in the kitchen area and a torso in a separate room of the residence. The remains were later identified as those of 71-year old Rogers.

The crime shocked the community.

“During the investigation it was determined that Rogers, who was wheelchair-bound, had a health care nurse who assisted him on a weekly basis,” said Edlin. “Detectives were able to obtain the nurse’s name and through her a person of interest was developed along with a physical description.”

According to the nurse, the individual had recently been residing with the victim, and was known as “Richard.”

“Deputy Rick Errett, who was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene, remembered he had come in contact with an individual at Merchant’s Crossing Shopping Center who matched the description of the roommate also named Richard,” Edlin said.

Deputy Errett had completed a field contact card on the subject identifying him as Richard Cope who was from Texas and new to the area.

“Through Deputy Errett, information he provided to the investigators was that Cope was being looked at as the primary suspect in the murder.” Edlin wrote.

Deputies located Cope a short time later, and he was taken to the Criminal Investigations Bureau, where he was interviewed.

“During the interview detectives found dried blood on the soles of his shoes. Cope was arrested and charged with first degree murder,” Edlin continued. “If not for Deputy Errett’s solid police tactics and his aggressive patrol techniques that he does tirelessly every time he is on duty, this dangerous criminal would have remained at large.”

Cantrell agreed.

“Without Errett, we couldn’t have caught the man. He would have been in the wind.”