Lee County Sheriff Deputies Rachael Armato and Shellie Tover were honored by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Thursday at the organization’s member lunch hosted by Doc Ford’s. U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds was the guest speaker.
The two deputies were honored for their response to a call near the Sanibel Causeway to help a female having a mental episode.
L.C.S.O. found the woman rolling around in the sand and crawling over shells on the beach. She then went into the water. LCSO’s marine unit arrived to help. As the marine unit deputy was trying to get the woman onto the boat she tried to pull the deputy into the water. The marine unit called for backup and stated the woman was trying to drown herself.
Deputies Armato and Tovar went into the water and out to the marine unit and were able to successfully stop the woman from going under the boat and pulling the other deputy in the water. She was transported to a hospital to receive care.
The Chamber recognized Deputies Armato and Shellie Tovar for their brave actions.