Man Stabbed In The Throat In Flomaton; Man Beat With Tire Iron In Atmore
May 10, 2013
A beating was reported Thursday night in Atmore, while a man was stabbed in Flomaton. There was no immediate indication that the crimes were related.
One Stabbed In Flomaton
A 27-year old man was reported stabbed in the throat about 10:15 p.m. on Carter Drive in Flomaton, just off Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The man was transported by ambulance to the McDavid Fire Station and then airlifted in critical condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Reports indicated he suffered multiple stab wounds to the throat from a butter knife.
There was no immediate word of any arrests. Further details have not yet been released by Alabama authorities.
Man Beaten In Atmore
An Atmore was reportedly beaten with a tire iron Thursday night in Atmore.
The incident happened at an unoccupied home on South Road. The victim, identified as 31-year old Ned Bishop, was reportedly attacked by three men. One hit him multiple times with a tire iron, while another man reportedly pulled a gun.
The three suspects fled the scene before police arrived. Bishop was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and later airlifted to a Mobile hospital.
Further details have not been officially released.
Firm Started By Gaetz Accused Of Medicare Fraud
May 10, 2013
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the hospice company founded by Senate President Don Gaetz, accusing it of Medicare fraud, going back to when Gaetz was still with the firm.
The lawsuit, filed May 2 in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City and reported Thursday by the Miami Herald, alleges that Vitas Hospice Services and Vitas Healthcare Corp. have misspent millions in taxpayer money collected from Medicare.
Gaetz, R-Niceville, sold the company in 2004 to current owner Chemed and no longer has any interest in the firm. But the suit alleges Chemed’s Vitas Health unit billed Medicare for services it didn’t provide since 2002. The suit alleges that “since at least 2002, Vitas, and since at least 2004 Chemed (after acquiring Vitas),submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Medicare program by both: (a) billing Medicare for more costly crisis care services when certain patients did not need crisis care services or when Vitas, in fact, did not provide such services, or Vitas provided inappropriate medical care, and (b) admitting certain patients who were not eligible to receive hospice services (instead of curative care), because the patients did not have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illnesses ran their normal course,” the complaint says.
A spokeswoman for Gaetz told the Herald that the complaint involved matters “long after” he left the company. The company also vows to fight the suit.
By The News Service of Florida
Suns Burn Wahoos 10-3
May 10, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns put Thursday’s game out of reach with a five-run eighth inning against the Blue Wahoos at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Blue Wahoos have now dropped two straight at the hands of the Suns.
Jacksonville jumped on Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Renken early with a three-run homer in the first inning from Major League rehabbing catcher Jeff Mathis. The Suns never trailed from there, although the Blue Wahoos remained within striking distance until the five-run eighth inning.
Pensacola scattered their three runs beginning in the second. Joe Mather scored from second on a base-hit from David Vidal, which at the time, pulled the Wahoos within two. In the sixth, Tucker Barnhart singled home Bryson Smith, but Mather was thrown out trying to score from second by Suns left fielder Christian Yelich. The final run scored on a bases loaded walk in the ninth when the game was well in hand.
Travis Mattair picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 night and extended his hit streak to six games with his single in the second. Barnhart also had a two-hit performance, his eighth multi-hit game of the year.
Renken (L, 1-3) took the loss for Pensacola after getting charged with four runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out a season-high seven betters and matched a season-high with four walks. Jacksonville’s Matt Neil (W, 1-2) earned the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Pensacola will look to even the series on Friday night with RHP Josh Smith (3-3, 5.20) going against Jacksonville’s RHP Robert Morey (0-0, 4.15). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
‘Lock Your Car’ – Readers Report Multiple Vehicle Burglaries
May 9, 2013
Several vehicle burglaries occurred sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning near Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com readers reported the vehicle burglaries Wednesday in the Farm Hill, Muscogee Road and Jacks Branch Road area. At least one resident reported a stolen firearm, while others reported losing cameras, purses and cash. Others reported there was nothing of value stolen from their vehicle.
In most of the instances, the vehicles were left unlocked.
“The moral of the story is to always lock your car and don’t leave valuables in it,” one victim wrote in message to NorthEscambia.com.
The vehicle burglaries are under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Mother Sentenced In Century Drug Case Involving Two Sons
May 9, 2013
A Century mother has been sentenced to jail in connection with a drug raid last year that landed her and two of her sons in jail.
The trio was arrested when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in February 2012 at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4, near the Century Care Center nursing home.
The mother, Karen Louise Quinley, 44, pleaded no contest last month to charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and destruction of evidence. This week, Judge Gary Bergosh sentenced Quinley to 200 days in the county jail. Once released, she will be on probation for 36 months and her driver’s license will be suspended for two years. She was also ordered to pay $2,511.60 in fines and costs, including $1,843.60 to cover the investigative costs of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Her son, 19-year old Cortez Rasheen Davison, pleaded no contest to possession of drug paraphernalia last month. He was found guilty by Bergosh and sentenced to 12 months probation.
Last year, 20-year old Nakeetric Devonte Davison pleaded no contest and adjudication was withheld on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh to 180 days in the county jail, with credit for three days served to be followed by 180 days probation. He has since completed his jail sentence.
Search Warrant Executed
After gaining entry to the mobile home, deputies reported finding Quinley in her bedroom. Quinley told deputies that she had tried to throw crack cocaine out of her bedroom window when she heard them at the door, but she was unable to get a window to open.
Nakeetric Davison told deputies that everything in his bedroom belonged to him, including the marijuana located by deputies. When asked by deputies if he sells marijuana, Nakeetric Davison replied “Yeah, I don’t have a job”, according to an arrest report.
In Nakeetric Davison’s room, narcotics officers reported finding items that included 417.6 grams pre-packaged marijuana under his bed in a Pringles can, a cookie jar and a plastic container, cash and “owe sheets” on the floor.
Cortez Davison, according to his arrest report, identified his bedroom but refused to answer further questions, instead asking for an attorney.
The February 2012 raid was not the first time the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit targeted alleged drug activity at the trailer. No one was home as officers executed a search warrant at the same mobile home in June 2010, finding a stem of marijuana in a bedroom, crack cocaine on the kitchen table, a razor blade with cocaine residue, a marijuana cigarette and digital scales during their search, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
Quinley was arrested on multiple charges following the 2010 search, but charges against her were later dropped due to insufficient evidence since she was not at home at the time of the raid.
Pictured above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a drug-related search warrant at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4 in Century last February. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Proposes Rule On Importing Deer From Other States
May 9, 2013
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to hear from deer enthusiasts and those who have deer farms or hunting preserves about a proposed rule change that would prohibit the importation of live captive deer into Florida from out-of-state sources.
The change is being proposed in an effort to reduce the chances of chronic wasting disease (CWD) being introduced into the state. CWD is not known to affect people.
The disease, which has been discovered in 22 states, two Canadian provinces and in South Korea, is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It is similar to mad cow disease, always fatal, and there is no known cure or vaccine for the animals.
The rule-change proposal will go before the Commission at its June 13 meeting in Lakeland, and the FWC encourages all those who have an interest to go to MyFWC.com/Deer and select “Captive Cervids” to read about what is being proposed and offer any comments, questions or concerns they may have.
To learn more and comment on the proposal, click here.
Girl, 11, Hit While Trying To Cross Street
May 9, 2013
An 11-year old girl was seriously injured when she was hit by a car while trying to cross the street Wednesday afternoon in Ferry Pass.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 61-year old Patricia Porter of Pensacola was traveling west on Escambia Johnson Avenue near the Winding Lane intersection. The FHP said 11-year old Cierra L. Holt ran across the road and into the path of the Mustang.
Holt was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious but stable condition.
The FHP said their preliminary investigation showed Porter was traveling at the 35 mph speed limit. No charges have been filed in the accident.
Weekend Golf Tourney To Benefit Miracle League
May 9, 2013
The Scenic Hills Men’s Golf Association is sponsoring a golf tournament on behalf of The Miracle League of Pensacola on Saturday, May 11 beginning at 9 a.m.
Cost is $50 per golfer, which includes green fees, cars, food and beverages.. Contact John Eisinger at (850) 477-5869; Jerry Huggard at (850) 291-2036; Mark Gray at (850) 380-5753 or the Scenic Hills Golf Shop at (850) 476-0611.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
May 9, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for April. They are (L-R) Taryn Janes, sixth grade; Fisher Spence, seventh grade; and Elizabeth Wright, eighth grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Won’t Intervene In Woman’s Parking Dispute With Business
May 9, 2013
A Century woman is battling with a neighboring small business over parking, and the Town of Century is taking a hands off approach, staying out of the fight.
Gail Aldridge, a resident of 9032 North Century Boulevard, approached the Century Town Council seeking help due to customers at a neighboring plant nursery parking on her property. Mayor Freddie McCall said it’s a private property dispute, and Aldridge needs to hire a lawyer.
Despite a postal address on North Century Boulevard, Aldridge’s property does not front on any roadway; it’s accessed from a driveway and easement from nearby Zion Street, behind the First Mt. Zion Church. The same driveway provides access to the nursery property, and Aldridge said the driveway and access to and from her property is often blocked by nursery customers.
She said “that does not give them the right to take my front yard for their business”.
Aldridge chose former Century councilman Henry Hawkins to speak on her behalf the council. “All Mrs. Aldridge wants is to be able to get out of her property when she wants to,” Hawkins said.
Aldridge has called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but deputies have not become involved because they believe it’s a civil, rather than criminal, issue.
McCall said he has been called to the location several times, including once when he was told “to hurry up and get up there because there is going to be a fight or a killing”.
“It’s a civil matter and they need to get a lawyer and let a judge…take care of that,” McCall said.
Pictured top: A map from the Escambia County Property Appraiser shows the location of Aldridge’s property relative to the neighboring plant nursery. Pictured inset: Henry Hawkins speaks on behalf of Gayle Aldridge (right) during a Century Town Council meeting. Pictured below: The area in front of Aldridge’s home that she says is being blocked by nursery customers. Pictured bottom: The nursery adjacent to Aldridge’s home. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
