Englewood man charged with post-Ian contractor violations

PLACIDA — An Englewood contractor is charged with misappropriating nearly $200,000 in deposits.

The arrest is the latest in a series of cases regarding alleged contractor violations following Hurricane Ian.

Joel Alastair Reed, 38, was charged with one count each of misappropriation of construction funds and contractor permit violation.

Reed is the owner of Freedom Builders of SWFL and accepted a repair contract for a home on Kettle Harbor Drive in Placida in January 2023.

The homeowner told Charlotte County Sheriff’s investigators that she paid $196,800 out of the $392,000 contract. Work began on the home, but fell short of expectations.

The homeowner alleged subcontractors brought in to repair the roof placed a lien on the property after they reported not being paid by Freedom Builders.

She was required to pay $37,000 for mold mitigation out of pocket due to work done by Reed’s firm, she alleges.

The report states when she contacted Reed, he allegedly said he lacked the funds to complete the project and cited “numerous personal hardships that had been affecting his life.”

The report alleged county offices showed no records of permits for work at the Kettle Harbor Drive residence by Freedom Builders, though there were permits for the subcontractor.

Reed was arrested Saturday, then released from Charlotte County Jail on $35,000 total bond. His arraignment is Sept. 9.

Reed’s arrest comes shortly after CCSO deputies charged a North Port man with falsely presenting himself as a licensed contractor and accepting deposits with insufficient work.

Two more men were arrested by deputies on similar charges last month, while the Punta Gorda Police Department also charged a Louisiana resident with similar allegations after Hurricane Ian.