Deputy honored at banquet: Deputy Frank Pooser, left, was honored by the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce as its Deputy of the Month. At right is Lt. J.D. Loethen who told the group that Pooser arrested two suspects running with a stolen cooking stove. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Two suspects running with a “hot” stove caught he eye of Deputy Frank Pooser and his outstanding detective work brought about the arrest of two individuals who had broken into an unoccupied house and were trying to stash a cooking range or stove behind a shed at a nearby residence.

Just the sign of two suspects running with a stove brought laughter at the Chamber luncheon.

These suspects were actually running with the stove when they saw Deputy Pooser, Loethen said. The stove was described as “hot” because it was being stolen as Pooser watched the two suspects actually running with the stove.

Before the arrest, Pooser was patrolling Lehigh when he noted a Ford pickup, black in color leaving the 1000 block of Graystone Ave.

Pooser noticed that an apparent break-in had taken place when he noticed that an open garage door had been left that way at an unoccupied residence.

Employee of the Month: Jackie Holscher of Lehigh Acres Florist was honored as the Employee of the Month by the Lehigh Acres Commerce of Commerce last week. At right is Joe Whalen, the Chamber’s CEO making the presentation. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Pooser was able to detain the two men running with the stove. A subsequent investigation by Pooser and Detective Holly Snyder led to the stove’s return to its rightful owner and the two men were charged with burglary and grand theft.

Loethen said the suspects were recently released from prison for similar crimes.

“There are burglars in Lehigh Acres that are a plague to the community and prey on the many vacant and remote homes in Lehigh. Thanks to Deputy Frank Pooser’s alert patrol technique and investigative abilities these two criminals were arrested and the property returned to the owner.

“I would also add that Deputy Pooser, as a member of the SET team, is a leader in arresting criminals in Lehigh.

Lt. J.D. Loethan stood in for Capt. Ed Tamayo and presented the Chamber of Commerce Award for the Deputy of the Month on Sept. 28 to Deputy Pooser.

Member of the Month: Mike Neven of the Lot Guys was honored as the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s Member of the Month during last week’s Chamber luncheon. He was presented a plaque by Joe Whalen, at right, for all the volunteer work and the things he does for the Chamber. Photo by Mel Toadvine

In addition to presenting plaques to Pooser, Joe Whalen, the Chamber’s CEO, also presented citations to two other people.

They included Jackie Holscher, who was named Employee of the Month. She is an employee of the Lehigh Acres florist.

Also honored for all the volunteer work he does for the Chamber was Mike Neven as member of the Month. He also received a plaque from Joe Whalen.

The names of new members were announced. They included:

DexOne, Jack’s Hack’s Taxi, Java Bean Direct, Lee County Volunteers in medicine, Pinnacle Automotive, Prepaid Legal, Len Lagocki, and Vicki’s Petz n’ More.

Mike Wilson of Edward Jones Investment, spoke about today’s stock market and business and retirement plans. He told the group that the recession had ended last July but because of the media, nobody believes it.