The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an abandoned silver 2018 Ford Transit van parked at the Placida Boat Ramp located at 6499 Boca Grande Causeway. The van was discovered after a deputy noticed the Transit van and another vehicle possibly disabled on Placida Road just after midnight on May 7th. As the deputy pulled over to assist, the van pulled off and was located in the boat ramp parking lot shortly after. Detectives have confirmed that inside the van was roughly 20, 15-gallon drums full of fuel totaling 300 gallons.
Criminal Investigations detectives are continuing the investigation. The sheriffs office asks that community members in the area of Placida and the Barrier Islands report any suspicious activity, boats, or people.