A former Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) commander, James Bogliole, has come forward as a whistleblower, alleging that higher-ups at the Sheriff’s office pressured him to alter the narrative of an incident involving an off-duty deputy’s DUI arrest.

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WINK News anchor Liz Biro exclusively obtained a letter where Bogliole claims he was coerced to change the story.

In 2023, then-LCSO Deputy Michael Soto was pulled over for speeding and arrested for DUI. While being driven to jail, the arresting deputy was called to bring Soto back to the scene. A higher-ranking officer then took Soto home.

Sheriff Carmine Marceno previously told WINK News that Soto had a medical incident and that LCSO stands by the call of the highest-ranked person that night.

On the scene, the arresting deputy, Christopher Link, marked that Soto performed “poor” on a field sobriety test. Link testified in a deposition, uncovered by Biro in March, that he stands by his call that Soto was under the influence of alcohol that night.

Bogliole, who was the highest-ranking officer on the scene, signed a report stating “Soto was ill and not impaired.” However, in a whistleblower letter obtained by WINK News, Bogliole claimed he never wrote those words.

Bogliole appeared in court Friday after being subpoenaed, having missed an earlier court date.

“I didn’t come to court because I was in New York. I left when I retired. I went to New...

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