Gun Jams As Suspect Tries Twice To Shoot At Deputy
May 20, 2013
An Escambia County deputy is lucky to be alive following an incident this morning where a suspect tried — and failed — to fire a gun at him twice.
While on patrol in the 700 block of Truman Avenue, Deputy Michael Runge made contact with a suspicious person at the Oakwood Terrace Apartments. The suspect, later identified as 25-year old Ryan Lewis Toler, attempted to flee at which time Runge pursued him on foot.
Toler turned around and aimed a 45-caliber semi-automatic pistol at Runge and attempted to fire twice; however, the gun jammed both times. Toler was apprehended a short time later on Michael Street. No shots were fired by deputies.
Toler was charged with first degree attempted homicide, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and resisting an officer with violence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1 million.
Update: Stolen Gear Returned, Molino Kart Racer Wins
May 20, 2013
Just days after his stolen gear was returned by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Jarrett Parker of Molino was the big winner in his division at a weekend kart race in Mississippi.
Parker was the Senior Pro Clone Winner at Checkered Flag Speedway in Stateline, MS, pocketing the top prize money of $1,000. His sister, Lakelynn, took third her her class.
Last week, Sheriff’s Investigator David Preston returned about $16,000 worth of stolen kart racing gear back to the Parker family. The items were stolen during a burglary at the family’s workshop on Gibson Road on May 4. A 2012 Elite Triton kart, five motors, cases of MAXXIS tires, tools and other items were taken.
After a story about the thefts appeared on NorthEscambia.com on May 6, the Sheriff’s Office and family began to receive tips that led to the recovery of the racing equipment.
Preston said arrests are forthcoming in the case, but has declined to provide further details about the suspects.
Pictured top: A practice lap at the Checkered Flag Speedway in Stateline, MS, on Saturday. Courtesy photo. Pictured below: Molino teen Jarrett Parker with about $16,000 worth of stolen kart racing gear returned last week by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Gets Prison For Shooting Into Home With Kids Inside
May 20, 2013
A man accused of shooting at an occupied mobile home in Molino in August 2012 has been sentenced to state prison.
Sharrieff Amin Shabazz, age 20 of Molino, was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, shooting into an occupied dwelling, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
He was sentenced as a youthful offender to four years in state prison by Judge J. Scott Duncan. Once released from prison, he will be on probation for four years and won’t be able to live within a half mile of the victims or have any contact with them.
The victim, 21-year old Kristi Gulsby, told deputies she was arguing with Shabazz over $6 he had loaned her for cigarettes about three months prior to the August 22 incident. Gulsby said she had paid him back twice.
Gulsby told deputies that Shabazz began cussing her out and screaming that he wanted his money. She said he then reached into his pants pocket and pulled a gun. As he began walking toward the road, Shabazz opened fire on the mobile home with Gulsby and her two juvenile children, one and four years old, nearby, an arrest report states.
No one was hit by the gunfire.
Shabazz was taken into custody a few hours after the shooting during a traffic stop at the intersection of Fairground Road and Jahaza Street in Molino. As the vehicle pulled over for Escambia County deputies, an ATF special agent working the case witnessed a silver handgun and two pill bottles being thrown out of the backseat, which was occupied by Shabazz. Deputies recovered a .380 caliber handgun outside the vehicle along with pill bottles containing 18 Lortab and cocaine. Inside the vehicle’s trunk, authorities reported finding marijuana in a Mason jar and plastic bags.
Pictured above and below: Gunfire rang out at this mobile home on Ayers Street in Molino on August 22, 2012. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign Begins Today
May 20, 2013
Escambia County deputies being a two-week crackdown today that is designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities across the county. The 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign is designed to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.
Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year. In fatal crashes during 2011, 77 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were thrown from their vehicles were killed. However, only 1 percent of crash victims who were buckled up were totally ejected from their vehicles, compared to 31 percent of those who were unbelted.
NHTSA statistics show that in 2011 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide.
Escambia County deputies are joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign from May 20 to June 2, 2013. Deputies will be ticketing unbelted vehicle occupants around the clock.
Toddler In Good Condition After Being Pulled Unresponsive From Byrneville Pool
May 20, 2013
A toddler was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital Sunday afternoon after being pulled unresponsive from a pool in Byrneville.
The incident happened about 5:35 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 7600 block of Raines Road.
The homeowner told deputies that his 2-year old daughter wandered out of the house to play with other children during a birthday party. Another parent, Brittany Rogers, noticed the child sinking in the pool and pulled her out of the water.
The 2-year old, believed to have been in the water for less than five minutes, was unresponsive. Rogers carried the child into the residence and performed CPR prior to the arrival of first responders. The child was alert and breathing when Escambia County EMS arrived on a scene moments later.
She was transported by ambulance to the Escambia County EMS Post on Industrial Boulevard in Century and airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
As of Monday afternoon, the girl was listed in good condition.
Pictured: A toddler was airlifted from the Escambia County EMS Post in Century to Sacred Heart Hospital after a near-drowning incident in Byrneville Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Civil War Children’s Program Today At Molino Library
May 20, 2013
The West Florida Public Library will present a Civil War program for children age 7 and older this afternoon in Molino.
The children’s program will include activities ranging from how to write with a quill pen to the questionably tasty experience of hardtack. The free program will begin at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library on Highway 95A.
The program is made possible in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and is supported by a grant from The National Endowment for the Humanities.
New Book Offers Glimpse Into Local Church Histories
May 20, 2013
A newly transcribed book offers a glimpse into local history through the documents of local Methodist churches during the 1800’s. “Methodist Episcopal Church South, Pollard Circuit (Revised to Powelton Circuit) 1878-1897″ was transcribed by Jacqueline Freisinger of Molino.
It is the ledger of the many circuit riders in the Powelton Circuit during that time period. Powelton was in the vicinity of the Gonzalez area on the west side of Highway 29. The Methodist movement in that area came out of the large campground and meetings held there where Lathram Church in Escambia County and Clearsprings Church in Baldwin County were organized.
The book includes information about church memberships, infant and adult baptisms, marriages, and deaths.
The Methodist churches listed are Byrneville, Canoe Station, Clearsprings, Crabtree’s, Ferry Pass, Lathram’s Chapel, Muscogee (Marvin), Myrtle Grove, Oak Grove, Pollard, Powelton (Shephard’s), Rehobeth (Hendrix), and Walnut Hill.
The book sells for $20 and includes a copy of the ledger. For more information, contact Freisinger at (850) 587-2247 or email jacque12162@frontier.com.
Registration Set For Atmore Swimming, Tennis Lessons
May 20, 2013
Swimming and tennis lesson registration Swimming/tennis lessons registration at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore will be held Tuesday, May 28 from 5-6 p.m. at the park pool for Session I. Registration will remain open until classes are filled.
Session I will be June 3 – June 21 (registration May 28), Session II will be June 24 – July 12 (registration June 10) and Session III will be July 15 – August 2 (registration July 8). The registration will be for the morning and evening classes each registration date.
The morning classes are one hour group classes held Monday through Friday from 9-10 and 10-11 with the evening classes being one-on-one held on Tuesday and Thursday from 5:20 – 5:50, 5:50 – 6:20 and 6:20 – 6:50. Tennis lessons are held from 9-10 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The cost is $35.00 per class per student. Call (251) 368-2322 for additional information until the pool opens on May 28th. After May 28, call the pool phone at (251) 368-8280.
The Atmore City Pool at Tom Byrne Park will open for summer on Tuesday, May 28 at 2 p.m.
Tate’s Chris Shelby Signs With Huntington College
May 20, 2013
Tate High School senior Chris Shelby has signed a football scholarship to play at Huntington College in Montgomery. Pictured are (bottom, L-R) Kenneth Shelby, Chris Shelby, Tami Shelby, Caleb Shelby (top, L-R) Dean David Venettozzi and Principal Rick Shackle,. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reverend Robert H. Porter, Jr.
May 20, 2013
Brother Porter finished his fight and entered into glory on Friday, May 17, 2013, from his home in Dogwood Park in Molino. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Henry Porter, Sr. and Margaret Mitchem Porter; his sister, Myrtle Young and a very dear daughter-in-law, Brenda Porter.
He is survived by his faithful and loving wife of 67 years, Daisy Marie Seals Porter; four sons, Bobby (Earlene) Porter, Bert Porter, Ben (Donna) Porter, and Bernard Porter; two daughters, Betty (Larry) Houck, and Bonnie (Ron) Carnley; one sister, Essie Willis; and also left to cherish his memory are his 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly.
Brother Porter was founder and former pastor of the Farm Hill Holiness Church for 43 years. His ministry touched the lives of thousands. His faithful and loving congregation will miss Brother Porter. The Porter family wishes to express appreciation to the Farm Hill congregation for their love and support during our father’s declining health.
The family also wishes to express a special thank you to a special family friend, Susie Conners, for her faithful service to the Porter family. Also, a very special thank you to Regency Hospice nurse, Lynette Spanganberg, for her compassionate care of dad during these last six months.
Funeral services will be held at Farm Hill Holiness Church on Madrid Road in Cantonment on Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m., with Pastor Donice Bowman and Pastor Clyde Hughes officiating. Brother Porter will lie in state in the church sanctuary prior to service.
Burial services will follow at Morgan Cemetery located on Highway 29 north of Molino.
Pallbearers will be Craig Kast, Brian Porter, Dayton Porter, Dillon Vardeman, Stanley Carnley and Roger Emmons.
Honorary pallbearers are all members of the Farm Hill Holiness Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.