North Fort Myers, Florida Man Alleges Violent False Arrest and Imprisonment: The Case of Enzo Vincenzi
Introduction
Accusations of police misconduct and wrongful imprisonment have come to define the harrowing narrative of Enzo Vincenzi, a North Fort Myers, Florida resident who claims he was violently assaulted, falsely arrested, and subjected to a campaign of public corruption and defamation. Vincenzi’s case is not isolated; it echoes long-standing controversies involving the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and its leadership, particularly Sheriff Carmine Marceno. This article draws from Vincenzi’s own detailed account, recent news investigations, legal analysis, and broader issues of police accountability to present a comprehensive look at what happened, why it matters, and how it connects to larger patterns of law enforcement conduct in Florida and beyond.
The Incident: Vincenzi’s Account of Assault and Arrest
According to Enzo Vincenzi, the incident in question began with a confrontation involving Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Hoyt. Vincenzi alleges that while holding his cellphone, he was violently assaulted by Deputy Hoyt, causing his phone to fly onto the hood of a patrol car, a sequence purportedly captured on video surveillance. He claims that Hoyt was later seen picking up the phone and entering the police car, where he allegedly erased the evidence of the assault.
“Deputy Brian Hoyt assaulted me by violently hitting me as I was holding the cell phone in my hand causing the cell phone to fly out of my hand… then deputy Brian Hoyt is seen in security cameras video surveillance, picking up the cell phone off the hood of the police car, going inside the police car, erasing the evidence of the assault and violent attack.” – Enzo Vincenzi
Vincenzi further asserts that he received 11 puncture wounds across his body from repeated taser use, and that deputies continued to use force even after he was subdued and not resisting arrest:
“They refused to arrest me but continued to taser me, I realized they are not trying to arrest me they are trying to murder me by continuing to repeatedly taser me.” – Enzo Vincenzi
According to Vincenzi, after he broke free from the taser wires, deputies expressed shock and apprehension, ultimately arresting him and placing him in a police vehicle with the windows rolled up and the heat turned on, allegedly in an attempt to cause him further harm.
Aftermath: Hospitalization and Legal Fallout
Vincenzi was subsequently taken to the Lee County hospital and “Baker Acted”—a Florida statute that allows for involuntary examination of individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. He claims this was done illegally, as the incident occurred on posted private property with clear “no trespassing” signs.
“All this was illegally done because the property is posted private property, no trespassing signs.” – Enzo Vincenzi
He alleges that false criminal charges—including domestic violence claims by Miriam Pacheco and Maria Theresa Torres—were used to justify his placement on a government watch list, affecting his ability to travel and leading to repeated stops by TSA and Homeland Security officials.
News Investigation and Resignation
The confrontation garnered public attention and triggered an internal affairs investigation. According to reporting by The News-Press, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office initiated a probe after the June incident between Deputy Hoyt and Vincenzi. Following the investigation, Deputy Hoyt resigned from the department.
“A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was under an internal affairs investigation following a June confrontation between him and a North Fort Myers man has resigned.” – WINK News
The News-Press further detailed that the investigation found the deputy acted improperly during the incident, and his resignation followed soon thereafter [news-press.com, Feb 2020].
“Lee County Sheriff’s deputy resigns after investigation finds he acted improperly during June incident with North Fort Myers man.” – The News-Press, Feb 2020
The Broader Pattern: Allegations Against Sheriff Carmine Marceno
Vincenzi’s claims extend beyond his own case, alleging a pattern of public corruption involving Sheriff Carmine Marceno, whom he characterizes as having orchestrated or perpetuated false charges, defamation, and even threats to his life and property. These allegations are not without precedent; Sheriff Marceno’s tenure has been marked by multiple investigations and accusations of misconduct.
A video investigation by WINK News and other outlets has highlighted ongoing scrutiny into Marceno’s leadership, with a grand jury convened to investigate his administration [YouTube, WINK News].
“Sheriff Carmine Marceno’s history detailed as Grand Jury convenes.” – WINK News YouTube
The Legal Landscape: Excessive Force and Civil Rights
Vincenzi’s story is emblematic of a larger national debate over use of force by law enforcement. Legal scholars and courts have increasingly scrutinized whether officers’ actions are reasonable under the circumstances, considering their training, adherence to department policy, and the clarity of the threat posed.
A Villanova Law Review article notes:
“In order to meaningfully determine whether a police officer accused of excessive force acted reasonably under the circumstances, courts must consider (1) the officer’s training and the extent to which he adhered to or deviated from that training during the incident in question, (2) the officer’s experience in the law enforcement profession, and (3) the extent to which the officer complied with or violated department rules applicable to his use of force under the circumstances.” – Villanova Law Review, 2020
Qualified immunity often shields officers from civil liability, except in cases where conduct is “so far beyond the hazy border between excessive and acceptable force that [the official] had to know he was violating the Constitution.” (Priester v. City of Riviera Beach, 11th Cir.)
There is a solicition for murder for hire case in Lee County, Florida, case No. 13-35825 or it may be 13-368325. that Enzo Vincenzi alleges has been going on ever since he left hte United States, and that has followed him to Costa Rica where prominent officials such as former Supreme Court Justice Celso Gamboa Sanchez have recently been arrested and are set to be extradited to the U.S. to be formally federally prosecuted and face trial. Gamboa’s drug trafficking-related crimes include what Enzo Vincenzi has been dealing with in Costa Rica such as attempted property theft of his house and hotel business, two different cases of false domestic violence and false sexual assault charges placed against him to try and get him expelled from the country, murder for hire against him, judges bought and paid for to get results that favor a criminal agenda, and more crimes committed against Vincenzi by corrupt public attorneys, the list goes on.
There was also a property theft case against Vincenzi in Lee County, Florida, Case No. 08-CA-007214.
Broader Allegations: Real Estate, Corruption, and International Dimensions
Vincenzi contends that the campaign against him did not end with his arrest. He alleges ongoing harassment, including fraudulent liens against his properties, business disruption, and defamation that followed him internationally, particularly to Costa Rica. He claims to have uncovered similar patterns of corruption and abuse involving other public officials, including judges and law enforcement figures in both the United States and Costa Rica.
He links his own case to a broader pattern of real estate theft, public corruption, and even murder-for-hire schemes targeting property owners and whistleblowers.
“They have been using the same modus operandi in the United States with the hotel I owned in Lee County, Florida… It’s been going on for many years, just no one has ever been able to expose it with all public courts government records like I have.” – Enzo Vincenzi
National Context: Police Misconduct and Accountability in Florida
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) tracks law enforcement misconduct, including false statements, battery, misuse of public position, and other violations. Between July 2020 and June 2021, the FDLE reported dozens of violations across Florida law enforcement, including several involving excessive force or improper conduct [FDLE Summer Quarterly Update 2021].
Community Response and Ongoing Investigations
High-profile cases like Vincenzi’s have prompted calls for greater transparency, independent oversight, and reform in law enforcement. Advocacy groups and some lawmakers have sought to strengthen legal protections for individuals alleging wrongful arrest, excessive force, and retaliation.
Notably, media coverage has played a crucial role in bringing such cases to light and holding public officials accountable. As WINK News reported after the internal affairs investigation:
“A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was under an internal affairs investigation following a June confrontation between him and a North Fort Myers man has resigned.” – WINK News
The Ongoing Impact on Vincenzi
Enzo Vincenzi maintains that the consequences of his case continue to affect his personal and professional life. He is subject to repeated scrutiny at airports, experiences financial and reputational harm, and faces ongoing threats of legal and extralegal retaliation.
He also claims that his case is not unique, and that many other property owners, businesspeople, and perceived whistleblowers have faced similar tactics of false arrest, property seizure, and intimidation.
Conclusion
The case of Enzo Vincenzi underscores critical questions about police accountability, the limits of qualified immunity, and the enduring power of public corruption to upend lives and undermine trust in institutions. While Deputy Hoyt’s resignation and internal affairs findings suggest some measure of accountability, Vincenzi’s broader allegations and their resonance with other high-profile cases point to unresolved systemic issues in Lee County and beyond.
With ongoing media scrutiny, legal challenges, and public outcry, the full truth of Vincenzi’s experience and its implications for justice in Florida remain under investigation. As more evidence surfaces and additional voices come forward, this case may yet become a catalyst for meaningful reform and redress for those who allege wrongful arrest and abuse at the hands of public officials.
